As February draws to a close, the National Agricultural Law Center (NALC) has been busy providing crucial updates and insights into the complex world of agricultural and food law. The center’s dedicated staff has been instrumental in disseminating trusted research and information to stakeholders nationwide, ensuring that the agricultural community remains informed and empowered.
The month began with a flurry of activity, as NALC Director Harrison Pittman kicked off February with a presentation at the 2025 Texas Seed Trade Association Annual Conference in Horseshoe Bay, Texas. Pittman’s talk, titled “The Lawyer in the Room: Agriculture Law Update,” provided attendees with a comprehensive overview of the latest legal developments impacting the seed industry. This was followed by a presentation at AgExcellence in Phoenix, Arizona, where Pittman discussed federal and state issues affecting the agricultural retail industry. Later in the month, Pittman joined forces with other experts to deliver a regulatory overview of current agricultural law issues at the 2025 Arkansas Rice Annual Meeting in Stuttgart, Arkansas.
Senior Staff Attorney Elizabeth Rumley also made significant contributions to the agricultural law discourse this February. She engaged with the University of North Dakota School of Law Rural Practice Association via Zoom, discussing agricultural law and the NALC research fellowship program. Rumley also presented at the NASDA 2025 Winter Policy Conference in Washington, D.C., and guest lectured in Assistant Professor Shawna Weimer’s Poultry Science class at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville.
Rusty Rumley, another Senior Staff Attorney at NALC, addressed landowner liability and trespassing at the Polk County Extension Service in Mena, Arkansas. He also participated in the NASDA 2025 Winter Policy Conference and delivered a presentation on business entities at the Center for Arkansas Farms and Food at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville.
Staff Attorney Brigit Rollins contributed to the month’s activities with a joint presentation on “Pesticide Policy in Practice: Agronomic Strategies and Policy Implications” at the 2025 Soybean Summit for the Illinois Soybean Association in Champaign, Illinois. This presentation highlighted the intricate relationship between pesticide policy and agronomic strategies, providing valuable insights for attendees.
NALC’s outreach efforts extended beyond presentations, with several media mentions throughout the month. The center was featured in various publications, including the Newton County Times, Farm Progress, and the Stuttgart Daily Leader. These mentions covered a range of topics, from the Chevron doctrine and agency authority to farm debt and agricultural bankruptcy. The media coverage also highlighted the significance of tax incentives for organic transition and the potential impacts of listing the monarch butterfly under the Endangered Species Act.
The NALC’s webinars and blog posts continued to be a valuable resource for stakeholders seeking to stay informed about the latest developments in agricultural and food law. The center’s news releases and The Feed provided timely updates on critical issues affecting the agricultural community.
As the agricultural sector continues to evolve, the National Agricultural Law Center remains committed to providing trusted research and information to stakeholders across the country. With a dedicated staff and a comprehensive range of resources, NALC is well-positioned to support the agricultural community in navigating the complex legal landscape.