Last week, I had the opportunity to present the 2026 Land Use and Resource Law Update at the American Agricultural Law Association Annual Symposium in Dallas, Texas alongside my friend and mentor, Jesse Richardson. Each year, we review some of the most significant court decisions from across the country involving agriculture, natural resources, property rights, and land use. This year’s update covered a wide range of issues, including the growing debate over agrivoltaics and whether solar projects qualify as agricultural uses, important regulatory takings decisions from state and… Read More →

A Pennsylvania Court of Appeals recently issued a decision in West Lampeter Solar 1, LLC v. West Lampeter Township Zoning Hearing Board, 351 A.3d 383, addressing an important question: Is an agrivoltaic operation considered “agriculture” under the law? Background Gerald and Jewel Garber own a 55-acre farm in Pennsylvania that was first purchased by Mr. Garber’s father in the 1970s.  The farm was used as pastureland or for growing crops since that time.  Mr. Garber testified he would like to pass the farm to his children, but he… Read More →

Fall has arrived and brought a number of agricultural law developments along with it.   *Federal appellate court dismisses challenge to removal of lesser prairie-chicken from Endangered Species List.  The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit recently issued an order dismissing a challenge to a lower court order removing the lesser prairie-chicken from the list of covered species under the Endangered Species Act.  The court held that the trial court erred in now allowing two conservation groups to intervene in the lawsuit, but then held… Read More →

Understanding current cash rental rates is important for both landowners and agricultural producers. One of the most widely used sources of rental rate information is the annual USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) cash rent survey, which compiles data from respondents across the country. The rates reported in this survey reflect average cash rents and are shown on a per-acre, per-year basis. 

John Deere recently settled a lawsuit brought by farmers who argued that John Deere improperly withheld certain repair tools needed to fix their large agricultural equipment like tractors and combines.  This “right to repair” settlement has important implications for farmers around the country who own Deere equipment and may provide compensation for certain repair costs incurred over the last several years. Background Farmers sued John Deere in Illinois federal court claiming the company restricted access to the software and digital tools required to diagnose and repair newer John… Read More →

It has been a minute since we have done an Ag Law in the Field Podcast recap. For our new readers on the Texas Agriculture Law Blog, we also have a podcast called Ag Law in the Field. Once a month, we release a new episode featuring experts from across the industry to discuss agricultural law issues and topics affecting landowners and agricultural producers.  https://aglaw.libsyn.com/

Please note that the dates for our upcoming Owning Your Piece of Texas and Ranchers Leasing Workshop programs have changed. If you are planning to attend either event, be sure to update your calendar with the new dates below.

This article was co-authored with Karli Kaase and Kara Matheney.  On June 3, 2026, the New World screwworm was confirmed in a calf near La Pryor, Texas. This has caused concern across the livestock, wildlife, and veterinary communities and a response from both state and federal agencies.   As response efforts continue, understanding the risks and knowing where to find reliable information are critical.  What is the New World Screwworm?  New World screwworm is a parasitic fly whose larvae feed on the living tissue of warm-blooded animals. Infestations can develop rapidly,… Read More →

One of my favorite parts of this job is getting out of the office and visiting with folks across the state. Whether it is a county program, conference, or workshop, there is nothing better than meeting landowners, producers, and Extension agents where they are and talking through real-world legal questions.  As we head into the next couple of months, the calendar is full, and I am looking forward to several opportunities to travel, teach, and learn alongside you all. If you have a chance to attend one of these events, please… Read More →

The Texas A&M Agricultural Economics Extension group recently published the 2026 Custom Rates Survey.  This resource offers average prices across Texas for various services such as tractor rental, planting and tillage operations, fertilizing, chemical application, harvesting, land improvement operations, fence building, livestock work and hauling, and predator management. The report is based on producer, custom service provider, and landowner survey responses that were solicited last fall.  Responses are reported both as a statewide number and broken down into four regions. To view the Custom Rates Survey, click here.