Elizabeth Rumley

In the world of agricultural law, 2023 was a year for significant developments and changes. In summary below, attorneys at the National Agricultural Law Center have identified and compiled the top legal and policy developments that affected agriculture this year, including many that will do so in years to come. This was a major year for waters of the United States, or WOTUS, the Clean Water Act (“CWA”) term that determines the jurisdiction of the Act and which waters are subject to CWA permitting.

In 2018, California voters passed “Prop 12,” a ballot proposal regulating space requirements for farm animals. The proposal had two main components. First, it prohibited the act of confining farm animals (egg-laying hens, veal calves and breeding pigs) in a “cruel manner.”  This prohibition applied to actions and animals within the state of California.

serggn/istock/Getty Images Plus The court cases have the potential to affect the availability and use of specific pesticides in coming years. Elizabeth Rumley | May 31, 2019 With the warming temperatures of spring comes decision making affecting plowing, planting, fertilizing, spraying… and court cases? The past few months have brought with them several court decisions with the potential to affect the availability and use of specific pesticides in coming years.