The final Farm Office Live webinar of the season was Friday, April 19 and featured industry guest Tim Harpster, who talked with us about trends in farm appraisals. Also on the agenda were: Update on Beneficial Ownership Reporting under the Corporate Transparency Act Trends in Farm Appraisals, with industry guest and appraiser Tim Harpster Did you miss the webinar?  No worries, you can visit for recordings of all Farm Office Live webinars ..read more

In time for another farmers’ market season, Ohio has a new food license available for food entrepreneurs who sell eggs, meats, and certain home-produced foods at farmers markets and similar venues.  A new “Low Risk Mobile Retail Food Establishment license” (Low Risk MRFE) offers a lower risk level license that will benefit many of Ohio’s farm-based and home-produced food vendors. Regulations establishing the new license were effective on February 12, 2024. Ohio law has historically required an MRFE license for vendors selling certain foods from mobile units such as trucks, trailers, tents ..read more

As April comes to a close, we bring you another edition of the Ag Law Harvest. This month’s harvest brings you laws and regulations from across the country regarding a national drinking water standard, the Endangered Species Act, Ag-Gag laws, noncompete agreements, and pollution.  EPA Finalizes First-Ever PFAS Drinking Water Standards Earlier this month, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”)  , issuing the “first-ever national, legally enforceable drinking water standard to protect communities from exposure to harmful per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known a ..read more

Retirement means different things to different farmers.  For some, retirement is the slow, gradual process of turning over the farming operation to the next generation. For others, retirement may be the immediate sale of operating assets when there is not an heir to take over the farming operation.  Regardless of the type of retirement, operating assets will often be transferred.  This article will discuss the different strategies to transfer operating assets and the implications of each strategy. The gifting of assets is the simplest transfer strategy.  Gifting works best ..read more

We have a packed schedule of topics for the final Farm Office Live webinar of the season this Friday, April 19 at 10 a.m. Our industry guest will be Tim Harpster, who'll talk with us about trends in farm appraisals.  Also on the agenda are several tax topics, the popular crop input outlook, the Dairy Margin Coverage Program, transferring operating assets, and an update on the Corporate Transparency Act.  Here's the line up: Update on Beneficial Ownership Reporting under the Corporate Transparency Act Trends in Farm Appraisals, with industry guest and appraiser Tim Harpster Register f ..read more

I'm often asked how an attorney becomes an "agricultural attorney."  The answer is simple: through knowledge. The best agricultural attorneys I know have two kinds of knowledge: they know agriculture, and they know the laws that affect agriculture.  There are several upcoming events that can help attorneys and law students gain the legal knowledge required to be an agricultural attorney. is currently offering two opportunities for attorneys and law students: .  NALC employs law students in their second and third years as Research Fellows who help conduct legal research and writi ..read more

At some point, we have all had to find a notary to get a document notarized.  Ohio law requires certain documents like deeds, long-term leases and vehicle titles to be notarized.  But, have you ever thought, why do we need to have documents notarized and what are notaries?  In this article, we will discuss notaries and the important role they plan in our society. What Does an Ohio Notary Do? An Ohio notary is an official empowered by the state to perform various acts that add an extra layer of security and credibility to legal proceedings. Their primary duties include: Verifying ..read more

Think about your key farm advisors. You likely have regular conversations with your agronomist, veterinarian, equipment dealer, and grain buyer throughout the year. But when was the last time you spoke with your insurance agent?   For many farmers, insurance agents fall outside their regular circle of communication. This can be a risky oversight. Here's why regular contact with your insurance agent is crucial: Unlike other advisors you might consult reactively for problems, your insurance agent plays a preventative role. They ensure your farm has the right coverage to bounce back fro ..read more

It's time for our annual Small Farm Conference, a day-long educational program for those who live on and operate smaller-scale farms. This year, the conference will be on April 6 on the eastern side of Ohio at the Mid-East Career Technical Center in Senecaville. Our Agricultural & Resource Law Program will teach a "Solar and Wind Leasing" session in the Business Management track.  Other track topics include Horticulture and Produce Production, Livestock, Natural Resources, and The Farm Kitchen.  Here's the session and speaker line-up for each track: Track 1:  Horticulture an ..read more

Spring has officially sprung, and so have a few interesting legal updates. In this edition of the Ag Law Harvest we cover aggravated vehicular assault in a farm utility vehicle, "Made in the USA" labels, the Corporate Transparency Act's legal woes, USDA's Dairy Margin Program, and the U.S House Committee on Agriculture's Agricultural Labor Working Group's final report.  Driver of Farm Utility Vehicle Cannot be Found Guilty of Aggravated Vehicular Assault.  The Supreme Court of Ohio ruled that a driver of a farm utility vehicle involved in a crash cannot be convicted of a felony for i ..read more