In today's episode, Brook will discuss the USDA's announced intent to establish the "Greenhouse Gas Technical Assistance Provider and Third-Party Verifier Program." Brook summarizes the key features of the proposed program and how the governmen

260. USDA Takes New Approach in HPAI Outbreak in Dairy Cattle

Apr 26th, 2024 25m 56s

In today's episode, Brook discusses the HPAI outbreak that has been detected in dairy cows. He walks us through why USDA hasn't issued any quarantine orders, and how states are responding. Hosted by Chloe Marie, Research Specialist—With Brook

259. PFAS Soil Contamination Fuels Liability Suit Over Biosolid Land Application

Mar 21st, 2024 8m 35s

In today's episode, Brook discusses a new lawsuit filed by a group of Texas farm owners against Synagro Technologies. The farm owners allege that their farms were poisoned by PFAS toxins from a biosolids-based fertilizer that was produced and m

258. Dicamba Registrations Vacated Again

Feb 19th, 2024 15m 8s

In today's episode, Brook explains the District Court for the District of Arizona's decision to vacate the EPA's 2020 pesticide registration authorizing the sale and use of dicamba-based weed killers within the United States. Brook discusses th

257. California’s Proposition 12 Finally Fully Effective

Feb 13th, 2024 21m 37s

In this week's episode, Brook talks about California’s Proposition 12 and the relevant regulations that recently became fully effective. These regulations established California's Animal Care Program and require third-party certification for pr

256. EPA Proposes More Stringent Meat and Poultry Processing Plant Effluent Discharge Standards

Jan 24th, 2024 11m 43s

In this week's episode, Brook discusses EPA's recently announced proposed set revisions to the Clean Water Act regulations, standards and permitting of wastewater discharges into waters of the United States from facilities that process meat and

255. EPA's Response to Federal Court's Decision on Chlorpyrifos Use

Jan 19th, 2024 11m 37s

In today's episode, Brook gives us an update to our last episode, which introduced a decision coming out of the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, holding that the EPA improperly "revoked all tolerances" for the use of the pesticide chlorpyrifos.

254. Federal Appeals Court Vacates EPA's 2022 Chlorpyrifos Ban and Orders Reconsideration of Food Tolerances / Uses

Dec 21st, 2023 14m 39s

In today's episode, Brook and Chloe talk about a decision coming out of the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, holding that the EPA improperly "revoked all tolerances" for the use of the pesticide chlorpyrifos. Brook explains the background of th

253. California’s Mandated Carcinogen Warning on Roundup Is Unconstitutional

Dec 5th, 2023 12m 5s

In today's episode, Brook and Chloe talk about a decision coming out of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, holding that California’s Proposition 65 carcinogen warning requirement for the herbicide glyphosate, a chemical found in the product Ro

251. DOJ Sues Agri-Stats Directly for Collusion in Protein Sector

Nov 20th, 2023 13m 32s

In this episode, Chloe and Brook talk about a new criminal lawsuit filed by the DOJ against Agri Stats, an agricultural data services company, U.S. v. Agri Stats The DOJ alleges that Agri Stats illegally organized and managed anticompetitive i

250. Beef and Pork Processing Plant Nationwide Wage-Fixing Class Action Suit Survives Motions to Dismiss

Nov 14th, 2023 10m 55s

In this episode, Chloe and Brook talk about a new private class action lawsuit, Brown v. JBS, et al. The plaintiffs allege that fifteen of the country's largest protein processing companies engaged in wage-fixing in their nationwide beef and p

249. U.S. Supreme Court Declines to Hear Case Permitting FLSA Overtime Claim of H-2A Worker

Nov 9th, 2023 15m 39s

In this episode, Chloe and Brook talk about U.S. Supreme Court's decision to deny a petition to hear the case of Signet Builders Inc. V. Vanegas. The focus of this case is whether a company must pay overtime to H-2A employees who construct on-f

248. EPA Reveals Plan to Reform CAFO Regulation under the Clean Water Act

Oct 17th, 2023 11m 47s

A discussion on the EPA's CAFO regulation system, and that EPA announced - without any form of press or public announcement - that it is currently commencing a reform plan of its own design. Hosted by Chloe Marie, Research Specialist—With Brook

247. Environmental Organizations Sue EPA for Refusal to Expand CAFO Regulation

Oct 10th, 2023 16m 51s

A new development involving the Clean Water Act, this time highlighting a new lawsuit brought by environmental organizations, who are suing the EPA for their refuls to expand CAFO regulations. Hosted by Chloe Marie, Research Specialist—With Bro

246. EPA's Revised WOTUS Rule Conforming to Sackett

Sep 25th, 2023 16m 23s

The latest developments in the on-going WOTUS saga, this time another EPA Final Rule displacing all others. Hosted by Chloe Marie, Research Specialist—With Brook Duer, Staff Attorney—Produced by Chloe Marie, Written by Brook Duer Penn State C

245. USDA Guaranteed Loan Debt Relief for Financially Distressed Borrowers; Maryland Supreme Court Nixes Ammonia Air Emissions Inclusion in CAFO permit

Sep 19th, 2023 23m 13s

USDA rolls-out another phase of farm loan debt-relief authorized by the Inflation Reduction Act. An unusual Maryland state court ruling on Clean Water Act permitting and ammonia air emissions is reversed by the Maryland Supreme Court. Hoste

244. EPA Releases Draft Herbicide Strategy for Endangered Species Listings; Eleventh Circuit Panel Remands Prior Glyphosate Preemption Decision

Sep 11th, 2023 17m 1s

EPA Releases Draft Herbicide Strategy for Endangered Species Listings. Eleventh Circuit Panel Remands Prior Glyphosate Preemption Decision Hosted by Chloe Marie, Research Specialist—With Brook Duer, Staff Attorney—Produced by Chloe marie, Wr

243. USDA Will Commence Hearing on Federal Milk Marketing Order Reform; Federal Court Denies Poultry Producers’ Motions to Dismiss, Antitrust Price-Fixing Litigation Will Continue to Trial

Aug 25th, 2023 30m

USDA to convene federal milk marketing order amendment hearing with 21 reform proposals on the table. The country’s largest poultry antitrust case endures a major shakeup when a federal court simultaneously decides 38 motions, mostly for summar

242. EU Food Safety Authority & Glyphosate; USDA Funds Greenhouse Gas & Carbon Sequestration Measurement; WOTUS Rule Revised As Per Sackett

Aug 2nd, 2023 24m 29s

The European Food Safety Authority determines ‘no critical areas of concern’ for glyphosate; The USDA announces $300 Million to fund a draft Federal Strategy to improve greenhouse gas measurement and carbon sequestration; The EPA plans to ame

241. California’s Proposition 12 Ruled Constitutional; Petition for Federal Milk Marketing Order Reform Filed; FDA Approves Gene-Edited Pigs

Jun 13th, 2023 25m 10s

The US Supreme Court finds California’s Proposition 12 Swine Confinement Standards Constitutional; The largest dairy producer trade group in the country files its long-awaited petition for Federal Milk Marketing Order reform; FDA approves the

240. Louisiana’s Meat Labeling Law Ruled Constitutional; Dispositive Motion filed in 2020 Dicamba Registration Legal Challenge

Apr 26th, 2023 20m 35s

Fifth Circuit Finds Louisiana Truth in Labelling Law Constitutional; Center for Biological Diversity Cites 2021 EPA Dicamba Report in Seeking Vacatur. Hosted by Al Jones, Research Assistant—With Brook Duer, Staff Attorney—Produced & Writte

239. WOTUS Final Rule Enjoined in 24 States; Perdue Farms Wage-Fixing Litigation Settlement

Apr 18th, 2023 14m 36s

North Dakota Federal Court enjoins WOTUS Final Rule in 24 States; Perdue Farms Files for Settlement Approval in Wage-Fixing Litigation. Hosted by Al Jones, Research Assistant—With Brook Duer, Staff Attorney—Produced & Written by Al Jones

238. 'Gruyere' is Generic; 'Product of the USA' Label Proposed Rule

Apr 11th, 2023 20m 58s

Fourth Circuit Holds ‘Gruyere’ is a Generic term Ineligible for Trademark Registration; USDA Closes Loopholes in New Proposed Rule on ‘Product of the USA’ Labeling. Hosted by Al Jones, Research Assistant—With Brook Duer, Staff Attorney—Produ

237. Comparability Test for Clean Water Act Citizen Suits; 2022 Chesapeake Bay Report; DEP Watershed Progress Report

Apr 7th, 2023 15m 52s

Supreme Court to Decide Comparability Test for Citizen Suits Under Clean Water Act; Chesapeake Bay Commission Issues 2022 Annual Report; Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Publishes Phase 3 Watershed Implementation Program 202

236. PA Quarantine Order Following Avian Influenza Outbreak; Injunctions Against WOTUS Final Rule in Texas and Idaho

Apr 4th, 2023 18m 23s

New PA Avian Influenza Outbreak Draws Additional Quarantine Order for Live Bird Production Premises; U.S. District Court Orders Injunctions Against WOTUS Final Rule in Texas and Idaho. Hosted by Al Jones, Research Assistant—With Brook Duer,