USDA National Appeals Division on the agenda for NALC’s 11th Annual Mid-South Conference
The session will detail what lawyers and clients should know when filing a USDA appeal.
By Tru Joi Curtis
National Agricultural Law Center
U of A System Division of Agriculture
April 16, 2024
Fast facts:
- National Ag Law Center’s Mid-South conference set for June 6-7
- Danielle Lake will present a session focusing on USDA National Appeals Division
- Conference registration is online
(312 words)
Download related photo of Lake
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — What happens next when a farmer is denied enrollment or benefits
in a U.S. Department of Agriculture program?
USDA offers an appeal process to farmers who receive a denial, known as an “adverse
program decision,” through its National Appeals Division, or NAD. These appeals can arise from a variety of programs including farm loans,
farm program payments, conservation programs and more. This process comes with specific
rules and procedures that producers and attorneys will need to know about.
Danielle Lake, deputy regional director of the USDA National Appeals Division, will
discuss what lawyers and their clients need to know when filing a USDA appeal during
the National Agricultural Law Center’s 11th Annual Mid-South Agricultural and Environmental
Law Conference, which will be held June 6-7.
During her session, “USDA National Appeals Division 101: What You and Your Farm Client
Need to Know,” Lake will share her inside knowledge of the best way to approach a
USDA appeal and the process’ impacts.
“NAD is dedicated to conducting impartial appeal hearings of adverse decisions made
by the USDA agencies under our jurisdiction,” Lake said. “This is a unique process
with special rules, and I’ll address some recent changes and provide pointers that
participants will want to know.”
The Mid-South Agricultural and Environmental Law Conference will be held in Memphis,
Tennessee at the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphrey School of Law. The conference will also be available via livestream for those unable to participate
in person. Registration, agenda and more information is available online.
“This session will be informative to those new to NAD as well as those who have considerable
experience with the process,” NALC Director Harrison Pittman said. “As a regional
director for NAD, Danielle will provide very unique insight into this unique legal
process. Danielle is a terrific presenter and we’re fortunate she’ll be joining us
in Memphis this year.”
For information about the National Agricultural Law Center, visit nationalaglawcenter.org or follow @Nataglaw on X. The National Agricultural Law Center is also on Facebook and LinkedIn.
For updates on agricultural law and policy developments, subscribe free of charge
to The Feed, the NALC’s twice-monthly newsletter highlighting recent legal developments facing
agriculture.
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 NALC 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 NALC 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. The Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work
within the nation’s historic land grant education system through the Agricultural
Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service.
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 dviguet@uark.edu as
soon as possible. Dial 711 for Arkansas Relay.
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Media contact:
Drew Viguet
Communications & Special Projects Coordinator
National Agricultural Law Center
dviguet@uark.edu