April 26, 2022
The Honorable Stephen Vaden to deliver keynote address at 9th annual Mid-South Conference
By Madison Price
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Fast facts:
- Vaden brings insight, wit to legal discussion
- Register online at https://bit.ly/3rSvzAd
- Early bird registration deadline May 22
(417 words)
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — As fertilizer prices rise to eye-popping levels, the agriculture industry will be watching closely as the U.S. Court of International Trade hears a case in which U.S. farm groups are siding with Morocco as that nation appeals tariffs on fertilizer imports.
Last year, the International Trade Commission voted to place a 20 percent tariff on phosphate fertilizers from Morocco and Russia, saying that subsidies from their governments enabled them to sell the products more cheaply.
That’s just the kind of case that Stephen Vaden and his fellow judges with the Court of International Trade hear every day. In fact, the case is among those he’s considering.
Vaden, a crowd favorite, is returning as the keynote speaker for the National Agricultural and Environmental Law Conference in Memphis, Tennessee. Known for his straight-shooting and humorous talks, Vaden will discuss the court and its impact on the agricultural industry and offer a few highlights from his time as general counsel at the U.S. Department of Agriculture as well.
Vaden has experience in both the public and private sectors. In addition to his work at USDA, he has served on the board of the Commodity Credit Corporation. In the private sector, Vaden has worked for law firms Jones Day and Patton Boggs. He has served on the Court of International Trade since November 2021.
“We are happy to have Judge Vaden back to the Mid-South Conference this year,” Harrison Pittman, director of the National Agricultural Law Center, said. “He brings that rare combination of keen legal and industry insight and laser wit that our attendees enjoy every time he’s here. Judge Vaden’s very unique background will add to the terrific lineup of this year’s speakers and topics.”
The conference will be held at the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law on June 10, with a “Beer & BBQ” networking dinner on the evening of June 9 at the world-famous Rendezvous restaurant.
Continuing education available
The conference has been approved for six total hours of CLE in Arkansas, Mississippi and Tennessee, including one hour of ethics. It has been approved for 7.2 total hours of CLE in Missouri, including 1.2 hours of ethics. The American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers has approved this conference for seven hours of CE.
Additionally, attendees who register by May 22 early bird deadline are also eligible for two “bonus” hours of online continuing education credit from the above organizations.
Learn more and register for the conference here at https://bit.ly/3rSvzAd.
For more information on the National Agricultural Law Center, visit https://nationalaglawcenter.org/ or follow @Nataglaw on Twitter.
About the National Agricultural Law Center
The National Agricultural Law Center serves as the nation’s leading source of agricultural and food law research and information. The Center works with producers, state and federal policymakers, Congressional staffers, attorneys, land grant universities, and many others to provide objective, nonpartisan agricultural and food law research and information to the nation’s agricultural community.
The Center is a unit of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and works in close partnership with the USDA Agricultural Research Service, National Agricultural Library.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on five system campuses.
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture is an equal opportunity/equal access/affirmative action institution. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate or need materials in another format, please contact 479-575-4607 as soon as possible. Dial 711 for Arkansas Relay.
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Media Contact:
Will Clark
National Agricultural Law Center
wwc001@uark.edu
479-899-2673