NALC Attorneys, AcreTrader to Present May 14 Mid-South Early Bird session
The program features an ag law update and information on ag land transactions.
By Drew Viguet
National Agricultural Law Center
U of A System Division of Agriculture
May 7, 2024
Fast facts:
- National Ag Law Center’s Mid-South Conference features online Early Bird program on May 14
- Early Bird registration deadline is May 13
- Session topics include ag land transactions and a mid-year ag law update
- Conference registration is online
(632 words)
Download related photos of Mid-South Early Bird speakers
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The early bird gets the free continuing legal education during
a pre-event session linked to the National Agricultural Law Center’s 11th Annual Mid-South Agricultural and Environmental Law Conference.
The conference is in June, but early birds who register by May 13 can take advantage
of the Mid-South Early Bird online program on May 14 from 10 a.m. to noon CDT. The
early birds may obtain free-of-charge bonus continuing legal education and continuing
education hours, better known as CLE and CE, approved in five states. Registration
is available online.
The Early Bird program will feature updates on recent court decisions, regulatory
developments and practical information on agricultural land transactions.
The program begins with an ag law update by NALC Senior Staff Attorney Elizabeth Rumley
and Staff Attorney Brigit Rollins.
Rumley’s research focus is on legal issues in animal agriculture, such as Proposition
12, a California ballot initiative governing space allowed to farm animals. Rollins
focuses on environmental law as it intersects with agriculture, including topics like
the Clean Water Act and pesticide regulation.
“The past year has seen significant developments in the ag and food law space,” Rumley
said. “The consequences to the Supreme Court’s 2023 decisions in Prop 12 and WOTUS,
judicial changes to pesticide regulation, and looking ahead to how this all fits in
with a prospective farm bill are legal and policy issues on everyone’s minds.”
Rumley said the NALC often gets questions regarding topics that will be covered in
the session.
“These decisions, as well as the subsequent effects, impact the agricultural industry
in the Mid-South and well beyond,” she said. “Brigit and I will cover them from both
a regional and national context, bringing insight into some of agriculture’s most
timely topics.”
Rumley’s and Rollins’ session will then be followed by AcreTrader’s Elise Alexander, vice president and general counsel, and Ben Maddox, vice president
of business development, along with NALC Director Harrison Pittman. The panel will
present on practical issues involving land title, Mid-South trends, foreign ownership
laws and litigation in southern states, and other ag land transactions issues.
“Elise and I are excited to present as a part of the NALC’s Mid-South Early Bird session,”
Maddox said. “At AcreTrader, we deal with agricultural land transactions daily, and
understand it’s a huge topic that generates considerable interest. We’re looking forward
to covering important details with Harrison.”
Pittman said that foreign ownership of ag land is a very active topic with lots of
moving pieces.
“Activity regarding foreign ownership of ag land continues at both state and federal
levels,” he said. “So far in 2024, states have signed foreign ownership measures into
law, with quite of bit of legislative and litigation activity in the Mid-South. Looking
forward to teaming up with Elise and Ben for this really unique session.”
CE/CLE approved in five states
The May 14 Early Bird online program has been approved for two hours of CLE in Arkansas,
Mississippi, and Tennessee. It has been approved for 2.2 hours of CLE credit in Kansas.
It has been approved for two hours of CLE credit in Missouri.
The American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers has approved the program
for two hours of CE.
In-person conference June 6-7
The main Mid-South Conference will take place on June 6-7 in Memphis, Tennessee.
An annual “Beer & BBQ” networking dinner will take place at The Rendezvous on the evening of Thursday, June 6. The main conference program, which also features
a livestream option, is on Friday, June 7 at the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law.
“We’re happy to provide these ag law updates during the Early Bird session,” Pittman
said. “It allows us to present important information, answer attendee questions and
connect with other ag professionals ahead of our main program in June.”
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