Farm Commons

In this episode, we explore a hard topic in employment law — discrimination in hiring and firing on the farm. While many farmers would never consider their employment processes discriminatory, the truth is that legal discrimination can creep in on even the most well intentioned farms. This is because there are personal characteristics, such as age, health, race, ethnic identity, sex and gender related conditions, that are protected by law and if an employment decision is made on the basis of those characteristics, even if indirectly, there is the potential for a legal claim of discrimination. Tune in to learn how to avoid “accidental” discrimination in employment law on your farm so that you can manage your workforce with confidence. Resources mentioned: Avoiding Discrimination in Employment for Farm and Ranch Businesses: The Federal Guide for farmers and ranchers in the U.S. For farmers and ranchers in Wisconsin For farmers and ranchers in Minnesota  

In this episode, we explore Farm Commons’ new membership program — why we have one, how it works, and how to join. You’ll hear insights into how our legal education work as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization has traditionally been funded over the past 8 years, and how the new membership program allows us to grow into our deeper goals of farmer accountability, long term relationship building, and increased access to farm law education across the nation. “Podcast intro” from Royalty Free by Kevin MacLeod. Released: 2020.

In this episode, we explain and explore the many changes we’ve made to farm law education at Farm Commons in response to limitations of the global pandemic. We dive deep into our core mission of empowering farming communities to resolve your own farm business law issues in an ecosystem of support, and how that mission guided us in thinking creatively outside of the “Zoom” box to create interactive, engaging, and actionable farm law workshops and a brand new website! “Podcast intro” from Royalty Free by Kevin MacLeod. Released: 2020.    

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! CFAP 2 Tutorial Farmers’ Legal Memo on Paid Sick and Family Leave “Podcast intro” from Royalty Free by

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. “Podcast intro” from Royalty Free by Kevin MacLeod. Released: 2020.

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 Intro Music: “Easy Lemon” from Royalty Free by Kevin MacLeod. Released: 2012.

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.   Intro Music: “Easy Lemon” from Royalty Free by Kevin MacLeod. Released: 2012.

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 lega

Agriculture in the United States was established on, with, and by the system of slavery – being the enslavement of black people by white people. Since the first people from Africa arrived on U.S. shores in 1619 into the system of enslavement, the legacy of oppression, racism, and discrimination has been passed down from generation to generation. Today, we see this in many areas of agriculture, especially the law. In this episode, we take a hard look at discrimination in the legal areas of lending and farmland access — how it works, what’s been done about it, and share supporting resources in these areas of law for black, indigenous, and peopler of color farming communities. Resources Mentioned: Southern Rural Development Center (SRCD)SRDC Heirs’ Property presentation (YouTube video)Tuskegee University Heir Property (PowerPoint Presentation)Farming While Black by Leah Penniman of Soul Fire FarmFamily Agriculture Resource Management Service (FARMS)Land Loss Prevention ProjectRAFI-USA Farmer HotlineFLAG Farmer H

This is special podcast episode which is the first of a two part series on Starting a Farm Business During COVID-19. We hosted a webinar on this subject on May 20th, 2020, and in this episode we’ll be sharing the first half of that presentation, going over important legal considerations for land leasing and setting up a resilient business structure when getting your farm business started. Tune into Episode 26 for the second half this presentation where we cover essential insurance considerations and employment law insights for new farm businesses. Resources Mentioned: Farmers’ Guide to Business Structures Disclaimer: We are working hard and fast to get information together about COVID-19 related programs to share with the farming community as quickly and accurately as possible. Please notethat things are rapidly shifting duringthis time and what was accurate info 2 days or 2 weeks ago may not be accurate tomorrow. As such, please look for our most recent updated information on all COVID-19 issues. “Easy Lemon