Category Archives: Mental Health

Suicide Prevention Awareness Month: Hope That Nobody Can Take from Us

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September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month.  If you have read this blog for any amount of time, you know the topic of mental health–particularly that in rural America and among agricultural producers–is very important to me.  It is my honor to be able to work, even slightly, in this space. Ag Law in the Field Podcast Episode  Each year, I record a podcast episode to honor Suicide Prevention Awareness Month.  To listen to all of my podcast episodes focused on mental health, click here.  These have been… Read More →

May 24, 2024 Weekly Round Up

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We have made it to another Friday and the start of summer for many!  There are a number of important agricultural law stories in the news. * House Committee on Agriculture releases Farm Bill Draft.  The House Committee on Agriculture, led by Chairman GT Thompson released its draft of the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024 last week.  Last night, the bill passed out of committee on a bipartisan vote 33-21.  To read the text of the bill, click here.  To read a summary of the House… Read More →

May 10, 2024 Weekly Round Up

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Happy May!  We are back with a number of ag law stories in the news over the past couple of weeks. *Notices of Appraised value being sent to Texas landowners.  County Appraisal Districts around the state are sending out Notices of Appraised Value to landowners.  Be sure that you carefully review your Notice and timely file any protest you may have.  It is critical the property owners understand that while their property tax bill will not arrive until October, any protest regarding the taxable value of property must… Read More →

November 3, 2023 Weekly Round Up

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Time continues to fly as we have reached the last 60 days of the year!  There has been no shortage of agricultural law news around the country the past couple of weeks. *Texas Drone Law Upheld by U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.  The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit has reversed a lower court decision striking down the Texas Privacy Act, a law related to privacy and drone usage.  You may recall from this blog post, a federal district court sided with journalists… Read More →

August 25, 2023 Weekly Round Up

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Happy Friday!  Once again, we’ve had a number of ag law issues in the news the past couple of weeks. * Bipartisan group of lawmakers ask House Agriculture Committee Chairman not to include EATS Act in the next Farm Bill.  A letter signed by more than 170 lawmakers asks House Ag Committee Chair Glenn “GT” Thompson not to include the EATS Act in a new farm bill.  The Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression Act was proposed after the Supreme Court upheld California’s Proposition 12 and would prohibit such measures in… Read More →

July 14, 2023 Weekly Round Up

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There has been no summer break for news in the agricultural law world.  Here are a few stories in the news recently. *Texas federal court issues stay Biden WOTUS Rule litigation until revised rule released.  A federal judge in Texas issued a stay in litigation challenging the Biden WOTUS Rule, which was promulgated earlier this year.  The stay was issued in light of the recent US Supreme Court decision in Sackett v. EPA, holding that the “significant nexus” test is not the proper method of determining whether a wetland… Read More →

January 27, 2023 Weekly Round Up

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The year started out with a bang and has not slowed down yet!  Here are some of the ag law stories in the news over the past couple of weeks. *USFWS extends effective date for lesser prairie chicken listing.  The USFWS is delaying the effective date of the lesser prairie chicken listing for 60 days until March 27, 2023.  [Read article here.] *APHIS proposes electronic identification rule for certain cattle crossing state lines.  The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has issued a proposed rule that would… Read More →

Suicide Prevention Awareness Month

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September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month.  This topic is one that is near and dear to my heart, and each year I take the opportunity to discuss the issues of mental health and suicide.  This year, I’ve got several different projects to share. Recovering Loudly  I was thrilled to be joined by Maddie Caldwell for an episode of my Ag Law in the Field Podcast.  Maddie is living by one of her favorite quotes, “if we recover loudly, we keep others from dying quietly.”  I am so grateful… Read More →

August 19, 2022 Weekly Round Up

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We’re back again with summaries of some of the ag law stories in the news over the past two weeks. *EPA Report Finds Numerous Risks Related to Dicamba.  The EPA released a draft ecological risk assessment on Wednesday finding that dicamba potentially adversely affects birds, mammals, bees, freshwater fish, aquatic vascular plants, and (of primary concern) non-target terrestrial plants.  The report stated the EPA found no evidence that the new restrictions implemented in 2020 have helped reduce the number of drift complaints. The report indicated that the EPA… Read More →

Mental Health Awareness Month: This World Is Better with You in It

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May is Mental Health Awareness Month.  Every year, I do an interview related to agriculture and mental health.  Click to listen to prior interviews with Ted Matthews, Adrienne DeSutter, and Lesley Kelley. This year, I was thrilled to have my friend, Shannon Ferrell, join me to talk about the work he is doing in this area.  Shannon offers important insight, information, suggestions, and encouragement.  He summed up our discussion with the most important line:  This world is better with you in it.  To listen to my interview with… Read More →