Category Archives: SCOTUS Watch

September 25, 2020 Weekly Round Up

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Happy Friday!  Here are a few of the ag law stories in the news. * Sign up for CFAP 2 program begins.  The USDA has announced a Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2, which will provide payments to qualifying farmers and ranchers.  The application period is open now through December 11.  Many of the main commodities in our area, including cattle, sheep, sorghum, wheat, cotton, and corn are eligible.  For more information and a full list of eligible commodities, click here.  Our District 1 economist, Dr. Justin Benavidez, recently… Read More →

October 7, 2016 Weekly Round Up

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Happy October!  Here are some of the ag law stories in the news this week. * Supreme Court to consider landmark groundwater dispute between Mississippi and Tennessee.  A groundwater dispute in which Mississippi claims that Tennessee is over-pumping an aquifer that lays beneath both states will be considered by the United States Supreme Court.  [Read article here.] *Lots to think about before entering into a solar lease agreement.  The Texas Observer published an article this week discussing a number of considerations that landowners need to keep in mind when approached… Read More →

April 8, 2016 Weekly Round Up

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It has been a busy week around here!  On Monday, I was a co-presenter on a Right to farm webinar.  On Tuesday, I offered a water law webinar for Texas extension agents.  On Thursday night, I spoke on agricultural law hot topics to a great group in Denton.  And, finally, today I am giving three presentations at the Texas & Southwest Cattle Raisers Convention in Ft. Worth.  To all of you new faces joining the blog, welcome! * Right to farm webinar recording available.  If you missed the… Read More →

April 1, 2016 Weekly Round Up

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This week found me in west Texas speaking at county extension meetings in Reagan, Coke, and Upton Counties.  Many thanks to county extension agents Chase McPhaul, Morgan Runyan, and Raymond Quigg for the invitations.  Welcome to those of you new to the blog from these programs.  Here are some of the ag law stories in the news this week. * US Supreme Court Hears Argument in Hawkes Clean Water Act Case.  This week, oral argument was held in an important Clean Water Act case at the United States Supreme… Read More →

SCOTUS Watch 2016: Murr v. Wisconsin

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Welcome to Part II in our SCOTUS Watch blog series where we are looking at US Supreme Court cases this term that could have affect agriculture.  If you missed Part I, click here. Today, we will take a look at Murr v. Wisconsin, a case involving how separate parcels of land should be treated when conducting a regulatory takings analysis. Legal Background The US Constitution provides that private property may not be “taken for public use, without just compensation.”  A government regulation constitutes a taking under the Fifth Amendment… Read More →

SCOTUS Watch 2016: US Army Corps of Engineers v. Hawkes

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Today we will kick off a two-part blog series titled SCOTUS Watch.  In this series, we will look at cases before the United States Supreme Court this term that will have an impact on agriculture.  Two cases will be heard this term, one involving the Clean Water Act and the other regulatory takings.  Let’s get started. The United States Supreme Court has agreed to consider US Army Corps of Engineer v. Hawkes Co., an important Clean Water Act (CWA) case.  This case involves a topic much discussed recently–“waters of… Read More →