Webinar Friday, Aug. 22: Understanding the Basics of Foreign Agricultural Land Ownership Laws

Agribusiness: Texas Foreign Land Ownership Bill Effective September 1, 2025 🌾
On September 1, 2025, Texas Senate Bill 17 (PDF), which prohibits land purchases in the state by certain foreign individuals and entities, becomes effective. The bill, passed into law on June 20, 2025, defines “designated country” as a country identified by the U.S. Director of National Intelligence “that poses a risk to the national security of the United States” or a country as designated by the governor, and prohibits governments, companies, and individuals domiciled in such “designated countries” from “intentionally or knowingly purchas[ing] or . . . acquir[ing] an interest in real property in th[e] state.” The law specifically identifies China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea and notes that cooperation among the countries “has grown rapidly in recent years” and “strengthened their abilities to harm the United States.” Persons or entities found in violation are subject to court-ordered divesture and a civil penalty of $250,000 or 50% of the subject property’s market value, whichever is greater.

International Trade: Commerce Department Assesses 20.5% Duty on Canadian Lumber Imports
On July 29, 2025, the International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce published in the Federal Register a notice (90 FR 35666) to assess a 20.56% duty on Canadian softwood lumber imports from all non-selected companies (Canfor will receive a 35.53% rate and West Fraser will receive a 9.65% rate). Also announced by Commerce on August 8 and July 25, the department “determined that softwood lumber from Canada was being unfairly subsidized at rates ranging from 12.12 percent to 16.82 percent” and that the companies sold lumber “at less than normal value during the period of review, January 1, 2023, through December 31, 2023.” The rates became effective upon publication.

Crop Insurance: USDA Publishes Final Rule Removing ‘Obsolete’ Crop Insurance Regulations
On August 14, 2025, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) published in the Federal Register a final rule (90 FR 39089) removing three provisions deemed “obsolete, unnecessary, and outdated” in Title 7 (Agriculture) of the Code of Federal Regulations, in accordance with Executive Order 14219 of February 19, 2025, “Ensuring Lawful Governance and Implementing the President’s ‘Department of Government Efficiency’ Deregulatory Initiative”:

According to the rule, the changes “will have no impacts on past or present FCIC customers.” The rule became effective immediately upon publication.

Antitrust: Federal Court Preliminarily Approves $34 Million Settlement in Milk Price-Fixing Class Action
On August 4, 2025, the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico issued an order granting preliminary approval of a $34.4 million settlement fund in a 2022 class action suit claiming that Dairy Farmers of America, Inc. (DFA) and Select Milk Producers, Inc. conspired to artificially depress Grade A milk prices. Othart Dairy Farms, LLC v. Dairy Farmers of America, Inc., No. 2:22-cv-00251. The preliminary approval defined the settlement class as “[a]ll dairy farmers, whether individuals or entities, who produced Grade A milk and sold Grade A milk independently or directly or through an agent to . . . DFA and Select, within . . . New Mexico, most of Texas (except the far eastern part of that state), the eastern portion of Arizona, the Oklahoma panhandle, and southwestern Kansas, from January 1, 2015, through June 30, 2025.” According to the plaintiff dairy farms’ memorandum in support of the settlement, in addition to the monetary settlement terms, DFA and Select must dissolve their joint entity, Greater Southwest Agency, Inc., and “refrain from sharing non-public member milk pay price information.”

Dairy Policy: International Dairy Foods Association Reports 60% Sugar Reduction in Flavored Milk
On August 7, 2025, the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) issued a press release (PDF) announcing that its latest survey under its Healthy School Milk Commitment “shows the current level of added sugar in flavored milk is 7.2 grams per serving on average,” which IDFA states represents a “nearly 60%” reduction in “added sugar in flavored milk products sold at schools” since 2006. According to IDFA, the Healthy School Milk Commitment, formed in April 2023 by “37 school milk processors representing approximately 95% of the school milk volume in the United States,” “calls on dairy companies to provide . . . school milk options with fewer calories and no more than 10 grams of added sugar per 8-ounce serving by the 2025-2026 school year.” IDFA states that the current 7.2-gram added sugar level “demonstrat[es] that all companies have met or exceeded the pledge.” Additionally, IDFA states that “calories associated with flavored milk” have declined since 2006, “from 166 to 123 calories per 8-ounce serving.” See also ALWR—Apr. 24, 2023, “IDFA Announces Healthy School Milk Commitment.” 

Food Policy: Texas Announces ‘Assurance of Voluntary Compliance’ with Kellogg to Remove Artificial Dyes from Cereals
On August 13, 2025, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced (PDF) that he had secured an Assurance of Voluntary Compliance (AVC) with WK Kellogg Co. stating that the company will “remove artificial food colorings from its cereals by the end of 2027,” although a copy of the AVC has not been published. “AVCs are a formal agreement, akin to a contract, between state attorneys general and a party that has violated, or is deemed likely to violate, consumer protection laws.” According to the announcement, the Texas attorney general had previously issued a Civil Investigative Demand to Kellogg in February 2025 and in April announced (PDF) a formal investigation into the company “for potentially violating Texas consumer protection laws.” According to the April announcement, “Kellogg’s had announced it would remove . . . artificial food dyes and the preservative BHT from its products, but . . . ha[d] not done so in the United States—despite removing th[e] . . . ingredients in Canada and Europe.”   

Water Quality: Vermont Agricultural Water Quality Law Effective July 1, 2025
On July 1, 2025, Vermont’s Act 67 (S. 124), which amends the state’s agricultural water quality laws, became effective. According to a legislative summary, the law removes the requirement for the state’s Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) and Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets (AAFM) to develop a memorandum of understanding “describing how the agencies will comply with and implement federal [concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFO)] program requirements” and shifts authority to ANR to “determine if there is a point source discharge from a large or medium CAFO that requires a CAFO permit.” Additionally, the law specifies that “discharges that ANR shall regulate are point source discharges . . . to waters of the State, including waters of the United States” and that AAFM is responsible for “implementing the State’s nonpoint source program on farms.”

Water Issues: Missouri Water Exportation Law Effective August 28, 2025
On August 28, 2025, Missouri Senate Bill 82 (PDF) becomes effective. Signed into law on July 14, 2025, the bill prohibits the export of water outside the state without a and outlines the state’s water exportation permitting process. Under the law, it is “unlawful for any person to withdraw water for exportation by use of a pipeline facility, unless the withdrawal and ultimate end use of the water . . . is within 30 miles of the state border.” Additionally, “[a]ny person who withdraws water for exportation shall annually report the water use volumes, withdrawal rates, and end use to the” state as part of the permitting requirements.

 

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2025 Agricultural Law Symposium—September 18, 2025. In-person at Penn State Dickinson Law, Lewis Katz Building, University Park, Pa. This day-long symposium will offer 6 CLE credits to Pennsylvania-licensed attorneys. Early Bird Pricing until Aug. 29! Attorneys w/ CLE—$150, Non-CLE—$100, Students—$25 REGISTER NOW

Understanding Agricultural Law Series. A free monthly Zoom webinar series for agricultural and rural business advisors. One hour of substantive CLE credit available for Pennsylvania-licensed attorneys at no charge. All events on Fridays, noon–1 pm (ET). Upcoming:

Aug. 22, 2025, Understanding the Basics of Foreign Agricultural Land Ownership Laws

Sept. 26, 2025, Understanding the Basics of U.S. Grain Dealer Statutes

Oct. 24, 2025, Understanding the Basics of Pennsylvania’s Seasonal Farm Labor Law

Nov. 21, 2025, Understanding the Basics of Cell Cultured Foods & Labeling Laws

Dec. 12, 2025, Understanding the Clean Water Act & Ag: Biosolids & Food Processing Waste Land Application

Quarterly Dairy Legal Webinar Series. A free quarterly Zoom webinar series covering dairy industry legal and regulatory developments with an in-depth focus topic. One hour of substantive CLE credit available for Pennsylvania-licensed attorneys at no charge. All events on Tuesdays, noon–1 pm (ET). Upcoming:

Oct. 14, 2025, 3rd Quarter 2025 Quarterly Dairy Legal Webinar

Mid-Atlantic Ag & Resource Law Conference with WVU Extension—October 28–29, 2025. In-person at National Conservation Training Center, Shepherdstown, WV. Registration Available.

Subscribe to the Pennsylvania Farm Employers’ Listserv (PFEL): an email networking and resource-sharing group exclusively about human resources information for agricultural operations.

Register or Refer an Ag Business for AgWorks: Connecting Agricultural Businesses to Workforce Services and Training. From 2025 to 2027, the Penn State Center for Agricultural and Shale Law and Penn State Extension will collaborate with farms and agriculture-related businesses to strengthen the workforce system. AgWorks will provide 100 registered small- to medium-sized Pennsylvania farms and agribusinesses with no-cost training and consultation to ensure business sustainability.

Resources of Interest:

Nat’l Agric. Law Ctr., The Deal With Dicamba: EPA Proposes Unconditional Registration for Over-the-Top Use, Brigit Rollins (August 12, 2025)

Univ. of Ill. FarmDoc Daily, The Reconciliation Farm Bill: Top Five Most Problematic Changes to Farm Policy, #4, Jonathan Coppess (August 14, 2025)

Univ. of Ill. Farm Policy News, John Deere Gets Access to Competitor Data in FTC Case, Ryan Hanrahan (August 12, 2025)

Tex. A&M Agric. Law Blog, Documents Every Adult Needs!, Tiffany Dowell Lashmet (August 11, 2025)

Agric. Law & Tax’n Blog, Reselling Off-Patent Seeds, Roger A. McEowen (August 10, 2025)

STATE ACTIONS—EXECUTIVE & LEGISLATIVE

PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE PRESS RELEASES

Shapiro Administration Names Perry County Eighth Bicentennial Farm, Seven New Century Farms at Penn State’s Ag Progress Days (August 14, 2025)

PENNSYLVANIA EXECUTIVE AGENCIES (Pa. Bulletin Vol. 55, No. 33—August 16, 2025):  

Department of Agriculture

55 Pa.B. 5870 Notice: “Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Annual Plan for Awarding Grants under the Pennsylvania Agricultural Fair Act”

Department of Environmental Protection

55 Pa.B. 5873 Notice: “Applications for National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permits and Water Quality Management (WQM) Permits Under the Clean Streams Law and Federal Clean Water Act”

55 Pa.B. 5955 Notice: “Bid Opportunity”

55 Pa.B. 5956 Notice: “Climate Change Advisory Committee Meeting Cancellation”

55 Pa.B. 5956 Notice: “Environmental Education Grants; 2026 Grant Opportunity”

55 Pa.B. 5956 Notice: “Issuance of Revised General Plan Approval and/or General Operating Permit for Human or Animal Crematory Incinerators (BAQ-GPA/GP-14)”

55 Pa.B. 5957 Notice: “Storage Tank Advisory Committee Meeting Cancellation”

PENNSYLVANIA LEGISLATURE

HB 1793 “An Act amending Title 3 (Agriculture) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in domestic animals, further providing for definitions and for use of biologicals, antibiotics, genetic material, chemicals, diagnostic agents and other substances.” Referred to Consumer Protection, Technology & Utilities [House] (August 10, 2025)

FEDERAL ACTIONS—EXECUTIVE & LEGISLATIVE

U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY PRESS RELEASES

ICYMI: EXCLUSIVE EPA Relaunches Guidance Document Database, Continuing Trump Tradition of Transparency (August 15, 2025)

ICYMI: EPA Green Lights Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) Fix Protecting Hard-Working American Farmers, Truckers, Equipment Operators (August 14, 2025)

EPA Administrator Zeldin Visits Iowa, Announces New EPA DEF Guidance, Attends State Fair, Celebrates One Big Beautiful Bill (August 13, 2025)
EPA allocates $409.4 M to North Carolina to prepare local drinking water utilities for future natural disasters (August 11, 2025)

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (USDA) PRESS RELEASES

Secretary Rollins Signs the August World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates Report (August 12, 2025)

USDA Career Federal Employees Awarded Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals for Innovative Solutions to Agricultural Challenges (August 12, 2025)

USDA Solicits Nominations to the Tribal Advisory Committee (August 11, 2025)

Secretary Rollins Announces Major Investment for Rural Communities Across Iowa (August 9, 2025)

USDA AGENCY PRESS RELEASES

Agricultural Marketing Service

USDA Announces Availability of New Agricultural Transportation Dashboard and Data (August 14, 2025)

Pre-Solicitation Announcement for Section 32 Purchase of Bartlett Pears (August 13, 2025)

Pre-Solicitation Announcement for Section 32 Purchase of Canned Peaches (August 13, 2025)

USDA Files Action Against Freshquita Brands LLC in Texas for Alleged PACA Violations (August 13, 2025)

Agricultural Research Service

USDA Agricultural Research Service Scientists Awarded Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals for Innovative Solutions to Agricultural Challenges (August 12, 2025)

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

USDA Conducts 2025 Oral Rabies Vaccination Efforts Targeting Wildlife in Eastern United States (August 12, 2025)

APHIS in Action: APHIS Tick Riders Take on New Threat: New World Screwworm (August 11, 2025)

Farm Service Agency

USDA Announces Availability of Low-Interest Physical Loss Loans for Minnesota Producers Affected by High Winds, Hail, Tornado, Excessive Rain, and Flash Flooding (August 14, 2025)

USDA Offers Program Flexibilities for Texas Agricultural Producers Impacted by Recent Flooding (August 12, 2025)

Foreign Agricultural Service

Export Sales to South Korea and Spain (August 14, 2025)

Export Sales to Mexico (August 12, 2025)

National Agricultural Statistics Service

USDA Forecasts U.S. Corn Production Up and Soybean Production Down from 2024 (August 12, 2025)

August Crop Production (August 12, 2025)

National Institute of Food and Agriculture

NIFA Invests Over $10.6M in Commodity Board Research Topics (A1811) (August 13, 2025)

WVSU Healthy Grandfamilies ‘a Godsend’ for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren (August 13, 2025)

Grants Modernization Update: NIFA Programs Moving to New Management System (August 12, 2025)

Researchers Turn Idaho Dairy Manure into Profits, Protect Waterways (August 11, 2025)

Natural Resources Conservation Service

Family Ranch in Paradise Valley’s Mill Creek Drainage Conserved (August 15, 2025)

NRCS Missouri Offers Funding Opportunities for Farmers and Landowners Under Four Regional Partnership Projects (August 15, 2025)

NRCS Missouri Announces Application Deadline for FY26 CSP Classic and EQIP Initiatives (August 15, 2025)

Introduction to the NRCS Technical Service Provider Program (August 15, 2025)

NRCS Provides Emergency Conservation Funds to Help Texas Farmers and Ranchers Recover from Recent Hill Country Floods (August 13, 2025)

USDA Offers Program Flexibilities for Texas Agricultural Producers Impacted by Recent Flooding (August 12, 2025)

Risk Management Agency

Crop Insurance Deadline Nears for Fall Planted Crops (August 12, 2025)

FEDERAL EXECUTIVE AGENCIES (Federal Register: August 11–15, 2025):

Department of Agriculture

90 FR 39174 Notice of Amendment to Solicit Nominations for Memberships; Correction: “Tribal Advisory Committee; Notice of Solicitation for Nominations; Correction” (August 14, 2025)

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

90 FR 39307 Final rule; technical amendment: “User Fees: Agricultural Quarantine and Inspection Services; Technical Amendment” (August 15, 2025)

Environmental Protection Agency

90 FR 39333 Interim final rule; notice of public hearing and extension of public comment period: “Extension of Deadlines: Standards of Performance for New, Reconstructed, and Modified Sources and Emissions Guidelines for Existing Sources: Oil and Natural Gas Sector Climate Review Interim Final Rule; National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Integrated Iron and Steel Manufacturing Facilities; National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Coke Ovens: Pushing, Quenching, and Battery Stacks, and Coke Oven Batteries” (August 15, 2025)

90 FR 39335 Final rule: “Mandipropamid; Pesticide Tolerance” (August 15, 2025)

90 FR 39345 Notification; extension of public comment period: “Reconsideration of 2009 Endangerment Finding and Greenhouse Gas Vehicle Standards; Extension of Comment Period” (August 15, 2025)

90 FR 39391 Notice: “Certain New Chemicals or Significant New Uses; Statements of Findings-June 2025” (August 15, 2025)

90 FR 38645 Notice: “Notice of Receipt of Requests to Voluntarily Cancel Certain Pesticide Registrations and/or Amend Registrations to Terminate Certain Uses (December 2024)” (August 11, 2025)

Federal Crop Insurance Corporation

90 FR 39089 Final rule: “Removal of Obsolete Regulations” (August 14, 2025)

90 FR 38607 Final rule: “Additional Payment II Program” (August 11, 2025)

Food and Drug Administration

90 FR 39395 Notice of public workshop; request for comments: “Advancing the Development of Interchangeable Products: Identifying Future Needs; Public Workshop; Request for Comments” (August 15, 2025)

90 FR 39139 Proposed rule: “Food Standards of Identity Modernization; Pasteurized Orange Juice; Proposed Rule; Correction” (August 14, 2025)

Food and Nutrition Service

90 FR 39362 Notice: “Food Distribution Program: Value of Donated Foods from July 1, 2025, Through June 30, 2026” (August 15, 2025)

Foreign Agricultural Service

90 FR 39362 Notice: “Adjustment of Appendices Under the Dairy Tariff-Rate Quota Import Licensing Regulation” (August 15, 2025)

90 FR 39364 Notice: “Assessment of Fees for Dairy Import Licenses for the 2026 Tariff-Rate Import Quota Year” (August 15, 2025)

Natural Resources Conservation Service

90 FR 39365 Notice; request for comments: “Information Collection Request for Volunteer Program-Earth Team” (August 15, 2025)

Forest Service

90 FR 38621 Notice; request for comment: “Information Collection: Post-Hurricane Research and Assessment of Agriculture, Forestry, and Rural Communities in the U.S. Caribbean” (August 11, 2025)

Office of the United States Trade Representative

90 FR 39461 Notice: “Fiscal Year 2026 Tariff-Rate Quota Allocations for Raw Cane Sugar, Refined and Specialty Sugar, and Sugar-Containing Products” (August 15, 2025)

Natural Resources Conservation Service

90 FR 39175 Notice of Intent (NOI) to Prepare a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS): “Notice of Intent to Prepare a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for the Hermit’s Peak and Calf Canyon (HPCC) Burn Scar Project Watershed Plan, in Mora, Colfax, Taos, Rio Arriba, Santa Fe, Guadalupe, and San Miguel Counties, New Mexico” (August 14, 2025)

90 FR 38944 Notice of intent (NOI) to prepare an environmental impact statement; notice of public meeting: “Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the St. Johns Watershed Project in Mississippi, New Madrid, and Scott Counties, Missouri” (August 13, 2025)

90 FR 38946 Notice of intent (NOI) to prepare an environmental impact statement; notice of public meeting: “Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Black River Watershed in Butler County, Missouri” (August 13, 2025)

90 FR 38946 Notice of intent (NOI) to prepare an environmental impact statement; notice of public meeting: “Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Black River Watershed in Butler County, Missouri” (August 13, 2025)

90 FR 38949 Notice; rescission: “Rescinding the Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the GreenThumb Gardens Water Supply Project Watershed Plan, New York, NY for Bronx, Kings, New York, Queens, and Richmond Counties” (August 13, 2025)

Rural Utilities Service

90 FR 39177 Notice and request for comments: “Notice of Request for Extension of a Currently Approved Information Collection” (August 14, 2025)

90 FR 39178 Notice: “Notice of Request for Extension of a Currently Approved Information Collection; Comments Requested” (August 14, 2025)

90 FR 39179 Notice and request for comment: “Notice of Extension of a Currently Approved Information Collection” (August 14, 2025)

U.S. HOUSE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE

H.R.4967 “Keep Seniors Fed Act” Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture (August 12, 2025)

H.R.4957 “Rural Housing Service Reform Act of 2025” Referred to the Committees on Financial Services and Agriculture (August 12, 2025)

H.R.4947 “No Discrimination in Farm Programs Act” Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture (August 12, 2025)

U.S. SENATE COMMITTEE AGRICULTURE, NUTRITION, AND FORESTRY  

None.

U.S. SENATE COMMITTEE AGRICULTURE, NUTRITION, AND FORESTRY—UPCOMING HEARINGS  

None.

 

Contributors:
Audry Thompson—Staff Attorney
Christina Fraser—Research Assistant