As the leaves begin to change color and the air turns crisp, the National Agricultural Law Center (NALC) has been diligently working to provide up-to-date resources and insights into the complex world of agricultural and food law. September 2025 has been a busy month for the NALC, with a variety of events, presentations, and media mentions that have helped to shed light on the latest developments in the field.
The NALC’s director, Harrison Pittman, has been particularly active this month, participating in several high-profile events and presentations. On September 3, Pittman joined a panel discussion at the Mid America CropLife Association’s annual meeting in Kansas City, Missouri, where he discussed the critical issues facing members in the wake of the 2024 election and the new Trump administration. The panel also featured Val Dolcini, head of Public Affairs North America for Syngenta, and Ron Seeber, President and CEO of the Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association.
Later in the month, on September 25, Pittman teamed up with Roger McEowen, a professor of agricultural law and taxation at Washburn University School of Law, and Paul Neiffer, a farm CPA, to present a joint panel discussion on the new tax law changes at the 2025 Ag Outlook Forum for the Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City, Missouri. The forum provided an opportunity for attendees to learn about the latest developments in agricultural law and policy, as well as the potential implications for their businesses and operations.
In addition to his presentations, Pittman also attended and presented at the 2025 National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) annual meeting in Rogers, Arkansas, from September 14 to 17. During the meeting, Pittman signed a new memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the NALC, NASDA, and the NASDA Foundation, which aims to strengthen agricultural policy education and student opportunities.
The NALC’s senior staff attorneys, Elizabeth Rumley and Rusty Rumley, also made significant contributions to the field of agricultural law this month. Elizabeth Rumley presented an online discussion on landowner liability to the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture administration via Zoom on September 10. She also attended and presented at the NASDA annual meeting in Rogers, Arkansas, from September 14 to 17.
Rusty Rumley, meanwhile, presented an in-person discussion on landowner liability for rural landowners at an Armed to Farm training in Madison, Wisconsin, on September 9 and 10. He also attended and presented at the NASDA annual meeting in Rogers, Arkansas, from September 14 to 17, and presented a discussion on “So You’re Interested in Ag Law and/or Politics?” to the Texas Collegiate Farm Bureau Regional Meeting in Lubbock, Texas, on September 21.
Brigit Rollins, a staff attorney at the NALC, also made a significant contribution to the field of agricultural law this month. On September 10, she presented an in-person discussion on recent changes to administrative law, focusing on the Supreme Court’s recent Loper Bright opinion and what it could mean for food safety regulation and relevant regulatory agencies, at the Arkansas Association for Food Protection Annual Education Conference in Fayetteville, Arkansas. She also attended and presented at the NASDA annual meeting in Rogers, Arkansas, from September 14 to 17.
The NALC’s media mentions this month have also helped to shed light on the latest developments in agricultural and food law. On September 3, Farms.com published an article titled “Keeping Good Records a Necessity for Farms with H-2A Labor,” which highlighted the importance of record-keeping for farms that employ H-2A labor. The article was also picked up by the Stuttgart Daily Leader and Farm Talk.
On September 5, Black Westchester published an article titled “School Supplies or Food? The Cruel Choice Facing Black and Brown Families” by Dr. Charise Breeden-Balaam, which discussed the challenges facing low-income families as they try to provide for their children’s basic needs. The article highlighted the importance of addressing food insecurity and other systemic issues that contribute to the cycle of poverty.
On September 11, the Magnolia Reporter published an article titled “Tax expert to break down new OBBBA provisions in NALC webinar,” which announced an upcoming webinar on the new OBBBA provisions. The webinar, which was presented by the NALC, provided attendees with an opportunity to learn about the latest developments in agricultural tax law.
On September 13, KPC News and The Post and Mail published articles titled “Kip Tom to address American Society of Agricultural Consultants’ annual conference,” which announced that Kip Tom