In an effort to keep our members and the community informed about changes that can or will affect them, related articles, updates, press releases, etc. will be shared here and discussion is welcomed.
3/16/26 – Oregon bills and a proposed federal farm bill are the top agriculture stories this week
(SOURCES: Oregonian, Capital Press, and The Nature Conservancy)
There are two Oregon bills and a proposed federal farm bill that are in the news this week.
In Oregon, House Bill 4153 was passed aimed at relaxing farm stand regulations and heads to Gov. Tina Kotek’s desk for a final signature. Under regulations in the bill, farm stores up to 10,000 square feet are allowed to operate as long as they sell products produced by the farm itself or in the local agricultural area, including food and beverages intended for immediate consumption.
Also in Oregon lawmakers approved a bill that bolsters regulatory enforcement of timely seed payments with House Bill 4065. The bill addresses seed dealers that must fully compensate farmers for crops and document their compliance within 30 days of receiving payment demands from the Oregon Department of Agriculture. The bill also increases the interest rates owed by seed dealers for late payments and doubles the fees associated with “slow pay/no pay” complaints to provide ODA with more money to enforce the law.
The House Committee on Agriculture passed the bipartisan Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 on March 4. This advances a five-year Farm Bill that supports farmers, working lands and conservation across the United States.
>> SOURCES AND FOR MORE INFORMATION ON EACH BILL:
https://www.nature.org/en-us/newsroom/house-committee-passes-farm-bill/
10/28/25 – Government shutdown impact and reintroduced agricultural land safeguards act
(SOURCES: American AG Network and National Sustainable Agricultural Coalition)
How the Government Shutdown is Impacting Farmers
In an October 10th article by the National Sustainable Agricultural Coalition, they explore the impact on farmers from the government shutdown. “Access to critical services – such as reliable internet – can be challenging or even nonexistent in many parts of rural America. Unfortunately, this also extends to access to reliable and affordable health care. On average, individuals – including farmers – living in rural households are more likely to be uninsured. Yet the rate of uninsured adults under 65 in rural areas has dropped by nearly half since 2010, when the ACA was passed, and there’s reason to believe uninsured rates may have fallen even more steeply for farmers since the ACA’s enactment. Healthy, thriving farmers, families, and rural communities are a foundational component of a sustainable, just food and farm system – and ensuring that all Americans can access quality, affordable healthcare is a critical part of reaching that goal. In addition to the government shutdown, the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 – otherwise known as the 2018 Farm Bill – expired with the new fiscal year, bringing with it an additional set of uncertainties.”
>> Read the complete article here.
Promoting Agriculture Safeguards and Security Act Reintroduced in Congress
In an October 16th article by the American AG Network, they discuss the Promoting Agriculture Safeguards and Security Act (PASS). “Elise Stefanik (R-NY) and Rick Crawford (R-AR) have reintroduced the Promoting Agriculture Safeguards and Security Act that will protect U.S. national security by prohibiting foreign adversaries from purchasing or controlling American agricultural land and businesses.”
>> Read the complete article here.
04/23/25 – 3rd Annual Western Water, Ag & Environmental Law Conference June 19-20
(SOURCE: The National Agricultural Law Center)
The agricultural industry in the western United States is uniquely impacted by changes and developments in state, federal, and international laws and policies. The Third Annual Western Water, Ag, & Environmental Law Conference provides relevant and timely legal research and information to attorneys, farm manager and rural appraisers, consultants, lenders, accountants, tax consultants, students, and other agricultural professionals involved in the western ag and food industries in the Western U.S. The conference is an excellent networking opportunity, as well as a premiere legal education opportunity tailored to the ag industry.
This conference will be held in person in Reno, Nevada. Livestream option is available. The main conference will feature 12 hours of continuing education, including two hours of Legal Ethics. More information here: nationalaglawcenter.org/western2025
04/17/25 – Artificial Intelligence is Clashing with Agriculture Law
(SOURCE: Martin Medeiros, Buckley Law P.C.)
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly intersecting with the agricultural sector, bringing both transformative benefits and significant legal challenges. The clash between AI technology and agriculture law signifies a critical juncture in the evolution of farming practices. As the agricultural sector continues to adopt innovative AI solutions, the legal landscape must adapt accordingly, ensuring that technology’s benefits can be harnessed by lawyers while addressing the accompanying risks and ethical dilemmas. Read the complete article here.
03/25/25 – Lawsuit aims to strike down Oregon’s new cannabis labor peace law
(SOURCE: Northwest Labor Press; Posted by Aaron Bell, Buckley Law P.C.)
Two Oregon cannabis companies have filed suit to try to overturn a recently passed ballot measure that requires labor peace agreements. Measure 119, sponsored by UFCW Local 555, passed in November with the support of 57% of voters. It requires cannabis retailers and processors to sign labor peace agreements pledging to remain neutral in union organizing campaigns in order to obtain or renew their license to do business in Oregon. Read the complete article here.
03/18/25 – LAW ALERT FROM THE PLF
(Posted by Aaron Bell, Buckley Law P.C.)
Corporate Transparency Act Whiplash: The saga of the on-again, off-again Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) continues in 2025. As a refresher, the CTA mandates that certain business entities disclose their beneficial ownership information (BOI) to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) of the Treasury Department. Due to court challenges in the Fourth and Fifth Circuits, the new administration’s changing priorities, and Congress’s ambivalence toward the CTA, practitioners and clients have experienced whiplash over CTA requirements, deadlines, and intended enforcement. This post is a summary of key CTA developments in 2025. Read the complete blog post here.
[FinCEN Alert – March 21, 2025] All entities created in the United States — including those previously known as “domestic reporting companies” — and their beneficial owners are now exempt from the requirement to report beneficial ownership information (BOI) to FinCEN. Existing foreign companies that must report their beneficial ownership information have at least an additional 30 days from the date of publication of the interim final rule. For more information, see press release and interim final rule.