It has been another busy couple of weeks in the agricultural law world.  Here are a few of the stories in the news recently.

*Bayer declares force majeure in glyphosate contracts.  Earlier this week, Bayer announced it would declare force majeure in glyphosate contracts due to mechanical issues.  A supplier of an ingredient used in glyphosate is facing mechanical difficulties, which Bayer says it expects to take three months to remedy.  The declaration of force majeure typically excuses the declaring party’s obligations under a contract due to an unforeseeable event.  [Read article here.]

*Ag groups seek stay on EPA’s chlorpyrifos rule.  On February 28, the EPA is set to finalize its rule revoking the food tolerance for the insecticide chlorpyrifos.  Last week, 21 ag groups filed a lawsuit against the EPA seeking a stay on that rulemaking.  [Read article here.]  To hear more about the myriad of issues happening with pesticides/herbicides currently, click here to listen to my most recent podcast episode with Emily Unglesbee from DTN Progressive Farmer.

*JBS agrees to pay $52.5 million to settlement in price-fixing lawsuit.  JBS will pay $52.5 million dollars, but will not admit wrongdoing, as part of a settlement in a federal lawsuit filed by grocery stores and beef wholesalers alleging price-fixing by beef packers to suppress the number of cattle slaughtered in order to help increase beef prices.  The lawsuit remains pending against Tyson Foods, Cargill, and National Beef.  [Read article here.]

*Getting affairs in order before a deployment.  My friend, Cari Rincker, recently published a blog post with a few items for military families to consider prior to a deployment.  [Read article here.]

Upcoming Presentations

My speaking schedule remains busy for the rest of February.  Tomorrow, February 19, I’ll be back in my home county talking estate planning to the Annie’s Project group in Tucumcari, NM.  Next Saturday, February 26, I’ll be joining several of my colleagues to discuss carbon contracts at the Texas Ag Forum in Lubbock.  Then, on February 28, I’ll be in Claude at the Mini Ag Conference to discuss hot topics in agriculture.  I’ll round out the week with an online presentation to students at my alma mater, the University of New Mexico School of Law, about agricultural law.

As always, you can find my full speaking schedule here.