{"id":4465,"date":"2017-01-23T01:34:49","date_gmt":"2017-01-23T07:34:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/agrilife.org\/texasaglaw\/?p=4465"},"modified":"2026-04-17T15:26:15","modified_gmt":"2026-04-17T20:26:15","slug":"look-forward-ag-law-2017","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/agrilife.org\/texasaglaw\/2017\/01\/23\/look-forward-ag-law-2017\/","title":{"rendered":"A Look Forward: Ag Law in 2017"},"content":{"rendered":"

It appears that 2017 could be an important year for a number of agricultural law issues.\u00a0 From the Clean Water Act, to \u201cAg Gag\u201d legislation, to the Endangered Species Act, there are a number of pending cases that could have major impacts on the agricultural industry in the coming year.\u00a0 Here is a brief look at four of the biggest cases to watch this year.<\/p>\n

\"Texas<\/a>

Texas A&M Agrilife Extension photo by Steve Byrns<\/p><\/div>\n

WOTUS lawsuit and potential Congressional action.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Everyone may be tired of talking about the new rule promulgated by the Environmental Protection Agency and Corps of Engineers to define the meaning of \u201cwaters of the United States\u201d under the Clean Water Act, but the drama surrounding this rule is far from over.\u00a0 Currently, there are lawsuits against the EPA across the nation challenging the new rule.\u00a0 In January, the United States Supreme Court announced that it will hear arguments this term on the jurisdictional issue\u2014meaning which the proper venue is for the legal challenge to go forward\u2014but not on the merits of the case.\u00a0 After the Supreme Court decides the venue issue, the case will proceed with the litigation process.\u00a0 Meanwhile, there could be action in Washington, DC that could address the new rule as well.\u00a0 It is possible that the Trump administration could withdraw the new rule and go back to the drawing board, or Congress could pass a resolution nullifying the new rule (like it did earlier this year, but which was vetoed by President Obama).\u00a0 Stay tuned, WOTUS will continue to be in the news this year.<\/p>\n

Duarte<\/em> decision is on appeal.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Another case involving the Clean Water Act should be on agricultural law enthusiasts\u2019 radar.\u00a0 The Duarte Nursery v. US Army Corps of Engineers<\/em> case is making its way through the federal courts in California.\u00a0 In that case, a farmer wanted to plow up grassland and sow wheat.\u00a0 The Corps of Engineers determined that because there were vernal pools and swales on the property, it was a \u201cwater of the United States\u201d and the landowner needed a federal permit in order to plow the ground.\u00a0 The trial court sided with the Corps of Engineers.\u00a0 The case is now pending on appeal at the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.\u00a0 It is a concerning example of how broadly the government can claim their jurisdiction is under the Clean Water Act and could have important ramifications for landowners.<\/p>\n

Challenge to Idaho and Utah \u201cAg Gag\u201d statutes \u00a0pending on appeal.<\/strong><\/p>\n

In the United States Courts of Appeal for the Ninth and Tenth Circuit, constitutional challenges to \u201cag gag\u201d statutes passed in Idaho and Utah are pending.\u00a0 These statutes, which essentially prohibit filming or recording of agricultural operations without permission from the owner, were challenged by animal rights groups as violating their constitutional rights.\u00a0 Challengers claim that the laws violate their free speech rights, while proponents insist the laws are important to protect their clients property rights.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ruling limiting Endangered Species Act scope is on appeal.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Also before the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit is a Utah case in which a prairie dog found itself in the midst of controversy over the Endangered Species Act.\u00a0 In that case, landowners challenge the listing of the Utah Prairie Dog\u2014a purely intra-state species located only within the state\u2014under the Endangered Species Act.\u00a0 The landowners claim that this exceeds the scope of power given under the Endangered Species Act because the Act is based upon Congress\u2019 interstate commerce power and this animal is neither found in commerce or an interstate species.\u00a0 The trial court sided with the landowners, but the Fish and Wildlife Service appealed the decision.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It appears that 2017 could be an important year for a number of agricultural law issues.\u00a0 From the Clean Water Act, to \u201cAg Gag\u201d legislation, to the Endangered Species Act, there are a number of pending cases that could have major impacts on the agricultural industry in the coming year.\u00a0 Here is a brief look at four of the biggest cases to watch this year. WOTUS lawsuit and potential Congressional action. Everyone may be tired of talking about the new rule promulgated by the Environmental Protection Agency and… Read More →<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2444,"featured_media":4057,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[23],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4465","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-year-in-review"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nA Look Forward: Ag Law in 2017 - Texas Agriculture Law<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/agrilife.org\/texasaglaw\/2017\/01\/23\/look-forward-ag-law-2017\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"A Look Forward: Ag Law in 2017 - Texas Agriculture Law\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"It appears that 2017 could be an important year for a number of agricultural law issues.\u00a0 From the Clean Water Act, to \u201cAg Gag\u201d legislation, to the Endangered Species Act, there are a number of pending cases that could have major impacts on the agricultural industry in the coming year.\u00a0 Here is a brief look at four of the biggest cases to watch this year. 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