The National Agricultural Law Center (NALC) has successfully concluded its 2025 conferences, marking another year of insightful discussions and networking opportunities for professionals in the agricultural law and policy sphere. The 12th Annual Mid-South Agricultural and Environmental Law Conference and the 3rd Annual Western Water, Agricultural, and Environmental Law Conference were co-hosted with the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture Foundation (NASDA Foundation), drawing a diverse range of attendees, including law students, attorneys, policymakers, and industry professionals.
NALC Director Harrison Pittman expressed his satisfaction with the events, highlighting the broad interest in ag law and policy issues across the country. He also extended gratitude to the NASDA Foundation for their invaluable partnership. Both conferences offered continuing legal education (CLE) credits, as well as credit from the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers, ensuring that attendees could gain professional development while engaging with critical topics.
The Mid-South conference, held in Memphis, Tennessee, and available via livestream, focused on key legal and policy issues impacting the Mid-South region and beyond. Topics ranged from groundwater developments and agricultural bankruptcy to federal regulations emanating from Washington, D.C. Former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson delivered the ethics session, discussing the contentious issue of foreign ownership of agricultural land. The conference also featured an annual “Beer & BBQ” networking dinner and an “Early Bird” online program offering bonus CLE credit. Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward, who also serves as president of NASDA, presented the keynote address, emphasizing the close relationship between NASDA and NALC.
The Western conference, held in Reno, Nevada, and also available via livestream, spotlighted issues uniquely impacting the Western U.S., such as water banking and leasing, federal-private split estates, and the recent overturning of the Chevron doctrine by the Supreme Court. Ward participated in this conference as well, moderating a panel discussion on state departments of agriculture. Pittman noted the significance of the Western conference in providing a platform for both attorneys and non-attorneys to learn about major topics influencing agriculture in the West, which has broader implications for the country’s agricultural landscape.
The implications of these conferences extend beyond the immediate attendees, as the discussions and insights shared can inform policy decisions, legal strategies, and industry practices. The focus on regional issues, such as water law in the West and agricultural bankruptcy in the Mid-South, highlights the diverse challenges faced by different parts of the country. Additionally, the inclusion of topics like foreign ownership of agricultural land and the impact of Supreme Court decisions underscores the intersection of national and international factors with local agricultural policies.
As the NALC looks ahead, it encourages stakeholders to stay tuned for upcoming CLE opportunities and to save the date for the 13th Annual Mid-South Agricultural and Environmental Law Conference, scheduled for June 4-5, 2026, in Memphis, Tennessee, and online. For those interested in past and upcoming conference opportunities, the NALC’s Educational Opportunities & Conferences page is a valuable resource. The NALC remains committed to fostering dialogue and collaboration among professionals in the agricultural law and policy community, ensuring that the sector continues to evolve and adapt to emerging challenges and opportunities.