Category Archives: Extension Publications

Texas Oil & Gas Leasing Handbook Available

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Last week, my colleague from Oklahoma State University, Shannon Ferrell, and I put on an oil and gas leasing workshop in College Station.  The program was well attended, participants asked excellent questions, and the final evaluations and comments were very positive from those who attended. The funding for this project was provided by the Southern Risk Management Education Center and the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.  We would also like to say a special thank you to Dr. Mark Waller, Tracy Davis, and Dusty Tittle for their… Read More →

Veterinary Feed Directive – What You Need To Know

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Major changes to how producers can purchase many medicated feeds are on the way under the new Veterinary Feed Directive rule, passed by the FDA.  Three significant changes are coming: (1) many drug labels are currently being modified by limiting the drug’s use to therapeutic, rather than production uses; (2) all “medically important” antimicrobial drugs used in feed will no longer be “over the counter”; and (3) a veterinarian must complete a VFD form before a producer can purchase certain medicated feeds that fall under the definition. I… Read More →

Farm Labor and I-9 Compliance

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Immigration is an extremely  hot topic in the news right now, and frankly a political issue I don’t want to touch with a 10 foot pole!   However, it is legally required for all employers, including all agricultural operations–be these large agribusinesses or small family farms–with at least one employee to comply with the form I-9 requirements.  I recently published a fact sheet discussing the requirements for employers with regard to I-9.  To access the fact sheet, just click here.  

Seed Law Fact Sheet

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Earlier this year, I published a fact sheet related to seed saving laws.  There are a number of legal protections that may be afforded to different seeds.  It is critical that farmers understand these laws and investigate which of them might apply to any seeds that they plant.  To view the fact sheet, click here.

Syngenta Corn Lawsuits: Answers to Producers’ Questions

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As we have previously discussed in several Weekly Round Up Posts, there have been numerous lawsuits filed across the county related against Syngenta related to a genetically modified corn seed that resulted in China rejecting shipments of US corn.   After receiving questions from numerous corn producers and agribusiness owners about exactly what was going on with these lawsuits, I have worked with attorneys William Chaney and Mitch Carthel to put together a Fact Sheet answering many of the questions frequently asked by producers. In order to obtain a… Read More →

Overview of the Endangered Species Act

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The Endangered Species Act has been in the news on nearly a daily basis this year.  We have seen new listings of several animals under the Act, which will impact landowners, farmers and ranchers, the oil and gas industry, and others in the areas in which the listed animals live.  In light of this, I developed an Extension Fact Sheet that provides a brief overview of the Act.  My intent is to give people an idea of how the act works, the major provisions, and the options available… Read More →

Pipeline Easement Negotiation Checklist

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Due in large part to the oil and gas boom, many landowners across Texas and the rest of the country are currently negotiating pipeline easements with pipeline companies.  In order to assist landowners in this endeavor, I prepared a checklist of terms that should be considered when negotiating a pipeline easement. I am happy to announce that the checklist has been published and is now available for FREE download from the Texas A&M Agrilife Bookstore.  Although the checklist was drafted with Texas law in mind, the suggested terms… Read More →

Texas Hunting Lease Checklist Available

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Last week I completed a Texas Hunting Lease Checklist to provide landowners and hunters a list of some terms to consider when negotiating hunting leases. The checklist has been published by Texas A&M and is now available for free in the Agrilife Bookstore. In order to obtain a copy, click here.  This will take you to the Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Bookstore.  From there, just click “add to cart” and then “proceed to checkout.”  You will be asked to enter your contact information, but you will see that there… Read More →

Texas Grazing Lease Checklist Available

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In the past year, I have given over 20 presentations on grazing leases to over 1,100 folks, mostly Texas landowners and producers.  It is clear that leasing is an important issue in Texas! In light of that, I prepared a checklist of terms for parties to consider when negotiating or drafting a grazing lease.  I am excited to announce that the publication is now officially available online…..for free! In order to obtain a copy, click here.  This will take you to the Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Bookstore.  From there, just click “add to… Read More →