The USDA organic seal is supposed to represent that certain foodstuffs are raised, grown and produced in a specific manner. The seal is relied upon those consumers who are willing to pay a premium for products with the seal. Therefore it is imperative that the National Organic Program and organic producers ensure the integrity and legitimacy of that seal. Unfortunately, a March 2010 audit by the USDA Office of the Inspector General [...]
Midwesterners are used to sharing rural two lane highways with large farm equipment and tractor-trailers transporting crops and livestock. Despite the familiarity, traffic accidents involving passenger cars and farm equipment or tractor-trailers occur every year which are sometimes horrific. Liability from such accidents can literally force a farmer or rancher operation out of business if he or she has not taken the appropriate steps to protect itself from liability. The following is a list of five steps a farmer or [...]
In Nebraska, the federal arbitration rules will apply even in cases that the farmer believes was settled. The Case: On September, 2010, the Nebraska Supreme Court ruled that two farmers would have to arbitrate their claim with Rural Community Insurance Company (RCIC) despite having an agreed upon settlement with RCIC’s insurance agent. Kremer v. Rural Community Insurance Company 280 Neb. 591, __ NW2d ___ (2010). The case started when Robert [...]
On February 11, 2011 the USDA gave the thumbs up to Syngenta’s Ethanol-Ready Corn (Enogen) for commercial planting. Enogen corn is genetically modified to produce the enzyme alpha-amylase which converts the starch in corn kernels into sugar which is consumed by alcohol-producing microorganisms. Thereafter the alcohol produced is converted into ethanol. Enogen would save the ethanol plants the time and extra cost of adding a liquid form of the enzyme [...]
