Farm Commons rachel@farmcommons.org (Rachel Armstrong)

Show Notes:

In this episode, staff attorney Rich Lavigne explains how the Food and Drug Administration's proposed "Food Traceability" rule will impact our nation's farms. The good news about the proposed rule is that the FDA is actively trying to avoid making a sweeping warning statement on a food item -- remember the big romaine upset of 2019? Well, the FDA is proposing a different system of food traceablity to pin point the source of a food safety outbreak more accurately. Tune in to learn what foods are considered "high-risk" and therefore are subject to the rule (hello, broccoli and cauliflower!), the ins and outs of the proposed paperwork requirements (spoiler: there's a lot), and the categories of exemptions from the rule. The best part is, the rule is not yet final! There is still time to weigh in on the proposed Food Traceability rule, so give a listen to this episode and then hop over to the Federal Register to let the FDA know by January 21, 2020 how the rule will impact your farm operation.

Resources Mentioned:


The open commnt page on the Federal Register 
FSMA Proposed Rule for Food Traceability
NSAC blog What the New FDA Rule Means for Farms: Part 1
NSAC blog What the New FDA Rule Means for Farms: Part 2

Show Notes:

In this episode, we cover three key strategies for managing the risks of contracting COVID-19 in the course of your farm business. As folks move indoors this winter and gather for holiday festivities, the likelihood of COVID cases increasing is  high. If you haven't gotten COVID yourself, you might  know someone who did, and there's of course the risk of you getting it as the days go on and the case numbers rise. To help you manage that risk, we offer key information about disability insurance and workers' compensation options for covering lost wages and doctors visits if you've been exposed to or contract COVID. You'll also learn about key considerations, both moral and legal, for operating your farm business with the knowledge that you've been exposed or have COVID but are asymptomatic. Don't worry, we share good news too that we think will put your mind, at least part of it, at ease.  Keep hanging in there! 

Resources mentioned:


CFAP 2 Tutorial
Farmers' Legal Memo on Paid Sick and Family Leave

Show Notes:

In this episode, Rich Lavigne, FC's Staff Attorney for Special Projects, shares key highlights of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program round 2 of funding. Hint: more specialty crops and farm products are eligible for COVID relief payments! Tune in to learn how payments are structured and how this might be a useful support to pursue for your farm business.

The deadline to apply for CFAP 2 is December 11th, 2020.  If you're interested in applying, tune in now and get your paperwork ready! Also be sure to attend Rich's indepth free webinar on CFAP 2 Thursday November 12th, 2020 at 3:00pm CDT/4:00pm EST.

Register now

Note: In the recording, we say the webinar begins at 2pm CDT. That is WRONG! The presentation will begin at 3pm CDT. Apologies for any inconvenience this discrepany causes. 

Show Notes:

Farmers have so much power to create the farmland access situations, business partnerships, and customer relationships of your dreams IF you take the time to talk things through, including the tough stuff. Hard conversations are necessary – there’s no getting around it. It's the elephant in the room that we all know is there and its presence grows as we tip toe around or avoid having those hard conversations. Now, we know that’s easier said than done so in this episode we share Four Questions to Ask before Tough Conversations. This is the first episode in our new series on Tips for Tough Conversations, and we’re excited to share more tools and frameworks with you coming up soon.

Resources mentioned in this episode:


Our Universal Needs from the Center for Non-Violent Communication
Four Questions to Ask Yourself Before Important Conversations by Oren Jay Sofer
Say What You Mean by Oren Jay Sofer

Show Notes: 

In this episode, Rich Lavigne, our Staff Attorney for Special Projects, shares innovaitve hiring tools farmers can utilize to meet their labor challeneges -- hint: these tools are business structures! Tune into our conversation about the Innovative Labor Models project in collaboartion with New Entry Sustainable Farming Project, out of Tufts University's Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, to hear about the potential of collaborative hiring models, how they can address labor challenges farmers face AND align with their core values, as well as so much more.

Show Notes:

Farming is tough, and starting a farm business during a global pandemic can be even tougher. In this episode, our staff member Taylor Coons shares key tips to help you start up your farm business with strong legal footing during this tumultuous time. We cover important conversations to have when leasing land and setting up your business structure, as well as insurance insights and what it means to have workers on your farm, legally speaking. Be sure to check out the resources we mention in the links below (hyperlinked on website only) to support you along your start-up journey. 

Resource links:


Farmers' Guide to Business Structures
Managing the Sustainable Farm's Risks with Insurance: Nagivating Common Options
Managing the Risks of Interns and Volunteers
Farmers' Legal Memo on Paid Sick Leave and Paid Family Leave


 

Disclaimer: These resources are provided by Farm Commons for educational purposes only and are not legal counseling. No attorney-client relationship is created, nor is there any offer to provide legal services by the distribution of these publications. Always consult an attorney before relying on the information in these resources.