Category Archives: Mental Health

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 →

February 4, 2022 Weekly Round Up

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Happy Friday from the cold, snowy Texas Panhandle.  Here are a few of the ag law stories in the news over the past couple of weeks. *United States Supreme Court to review Sackett v. EPA.  The US Supreme Court has agreed to hear arguments in Sackett v. EPA in order to answer a very important question under the Clean Water Act:  What is the proper tests for courts to use in determining whether a wetland is considered a Water of the United States?  The US Court of Appeals for the… Read More →

September 24, 2021 Weekly Round Up

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>Hello and Happy Friday!  We’re back with an Ag Law Weekly Round Up to catch you up on some of the ag law stories over the past month. *EPA Administrator discusses dicamba, WOTUS, and ag advisor.  Recently, EPA Administrator, Michael Regan, spoke at the NASDA national meeting.  He indicated that the EPA is currently working on a new version of the “waters of the United States” definition pursuant to the Clean Water Act, and he expects for the initial proposed draft to be released in November.  He did… Read More →

Farm & Ranch Families + Mental Health Podcast Episode

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September is National Suicide Prevention Month.  This is a topic that is very important to me, so I wanted to do a podcast episode discussing mental health in the agricultural context.  I was joined by Ted Matthews, a counselor who has spent his career working with farm and ranch families as Director of the Minnesota Rural Mental Health Specialists.  Ted offered some great insight about mental health on the farm.  To listen to our conversation, click here. Additionally, we’ve compiled a list of resources related to mental health… Read More →

Agriculture + Mental Health Awareness Month

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You may know that May is Mental Health Awareness Month.  Because this is such an important issue, especially for those of us involved in agriculture, I wanted to share a podcast interview I did with Adrienne DeSutter. Adrienne’s background makes her perfect for this conversation.  Not only does she have a counseling degree, but she is also a farm wife who has spoken extensively about mental health and agriculture.  She joined me to talk about why this is such an issue for our industry, and some tips for… Read More →

February 26, 2021 Weekly Round Up

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Hello friends!  It’s been a wild couple of weeks here in Texas.  I appreciate all of you who reached out to check on my family and offer support during the crazy weather last week.  I am happy to report we all survived and were very happy to see the 60 degree temperatures this week!  Shelley Huguley compiled photos from producers around Texas showing the extent of the storm damage and it’s really heartbreaking to see the scope of damage to various agricultural producers.  To view her photos, click… Read More →

January 29, 2021 Weekly Round Up

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Happy Friday!  It’s been a busy week here as I have been working with several of my colleagues in the Texas A&M Agricultural Economics Department on a series of educational videos on the legal and economic issues related to hemp production. If this is a topic of interest to you, be sure you subscribe to this blog as we will be releasing our videos and written materials within the next month! Here are some of the ag law stories in the news over the past couple of weeks…. Read More →