Category Archives: Federal Regulations

July 10, 2015 Weekly Round Up

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We’ve made it to another Friday!  Here are some of the interesting ag law stories in the news this week.  Also, for those of you on Twitter, be sure to follow me @Tiff Dowell for more ag law news throughout the week! * Oklahoma Supreme Court Allows Suits by Property Owners Against Oil and Gas Companies for Earthquakes.  An Oklahoma property owner who claims her home was damaged due to an earthquake she claims was caused by a saltwater disposal well can pursue her legal claim  against numerous… Read More →

June 12, 2015 Weekly Round Up

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This week I was back on the road for two presentations.  On Monday evening, I spoke on groundwater rights and ownership in Grayson County.  On Tuesday morning, I discussed important laws for agricultural producers to be aware of in Navarro County.  Both crowds were great and made the programs a lot of fun for me!  Thanks for County Extension Agents Chuck Jones and Page Bishop for organizing.  Welcome to the new blog readers from these programs! *  Free Immigration and Farm Labor Webinar.  The University of Maryland is… Read More →

June 5, 2015 Weekly Round Up

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This week I gave two presentations via the internet to folks in San Angelo and in Jefferson County.  To those of you new to the blog from these presentations, welcome! It’s been another busy week in the agricultural law realm. *  Hays County Groundwater Bill on Governor’s Desk.  The Texas Legislature passed HB 3405, known as the  Hays County Groundwater Bill, sending it on to Governor Abbo[Read article here.]  As you likely recall from prior blog posts, Hays County finds itself in the middle of a groundwater battle… Read More →

May 29, 2015 Weekly Round Up

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This week I spent a couple of days in Lubbock at the 9th Annual John Huffaker Agricultural Law Course, held on campus at the Texas Tech School of Law.  As always, it was a fantastic conference.  Kudos to organizers David Waggoner and Trace Blair for their hard work.  All ag attorneys should try to attend next year!  Stay tuned for some blog updates on what we discussed coming soon. Here are some major ag law stories in the news this week. *  EPA Releases Final WOTUS Rule.  The… Read More →

Washington Court Holds Manure Subject to Federal Regulation, Parties Agree to Settle

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A couple of months ago, I wrote an article for Dairy Herd Management magazine discussing an important court decision in Washington that could have wide-ranging implications on agriculture. Community Association for Restoration of the Environment v. Cow Palace, LLC, was filed by two environmental groups (Community Association for the Restoration of the Environment and the Center for Food Safety) against a Washington state dairy.  The Cow Palace Dairy ran a herd of 11,000 cows in the Lower Yakima Valley of Washington.  A decision was issued in January by the… Read More →

April 10, 2015 Weekly Round Up

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Yesterday found me in Menard, Texas talking to local landowners about hunting leases.  Thanks to Lisa Brown for the invitation and welcome to those of you joining the blog from that presentation! Here are some of the ag law stories in the news this week. * Midland County to Purchase Land for Groundwater Rights.  Midland County officials recently approved the purchase of land to secure additional groundwater for the county.  [Read article here.] * USDA Proposes Modifications to “Actively Engaged in Farming” Definition.  The USDA has proposed changes to… Read More →

April 6, 2015 Weekly Round Up

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Because of the Corpus Christi Court of Appeals opinion last week in TCEQ v. Texas Farm Bureau, the weekly round up blog for last Friday got pushed to today. Last weekend, I attended my first Texas & Southwest Cattle Raiser’s Conference in Ft. Worth.  I was honored to give three presentations on grazing leases and pipeline easements and had an absolute blast!  To those of you joining from the Convention, welcome! Here are some ag law stories in the news this week. * Texas Supreme Court Hears Chesapeake… Read More →

March 20, 2015 Weekly Round Up

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Spring is in the air!  Hope you are all enjoying some warmer temperatures, and hopefully, some rain!  Here are some of the ag law stories in the news this week. *Briscoe County Will Not Become Part of High Plains Water District.  Despite a TCEQ recommendation that the High Plains Water District annex Briscoe County under its jurisdiction, the District Board voted unanimously not to do so last week.  Numerous Briscoe County residents spoke against the annexation, claiming they were perfectly happy being unregulated by a groundwater conservation district…. Read More →

WOTUS All the Fuss About?

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Recently, OSU Professor of Ag Law Shannon Ferrell, and I wrote an article for Southwest Farm Press titled WOTUS All the Fuss About.  (I do have to admit that Professor Ferrell did most of they heavy lifting, including the snappy title!) The article provides an overview of the recent controversy involving the EPA and Corps of Engineers proposed rule to define “waters of the United States” under the Clean Water Act.  The proposed definition was met with a great deal of push back from many industries, with agriculture… Read More →

September 26, 2014 Weekly Round Up

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This week was another busy one as I was out and about speaking at programs in Austin, Huntsville, and Ozona.  Last Saturday, I was honored to be on a panel discussing the Future of Texas Agriculture at the Texas Tribune Festival in Austin.  It was a wonderful event and the other folks on the panel, Blair Fitzsimons, Rep. Tracy King, Sid Miller, and Jim Sartwelle were absolutely fantastic.  I appreciate Evan Smith’s invitation to participate in this event.  To view the live blog overview of our session, click… Read More →