COVID-19, Agriculture, & the Law: Taking Stock of the Road Behind and Ahead
Topic:
Since March, COVID-19 has wreaked havoc on the nation’s agricultural sector. For most of agriculture, COVID-19 was the latest in an already problematic environment driven by depressed commodity prices, weather disasters such as widespread flooding, and ongoing international trade disruptions. This webinar will provide the latest updates on major developments that have occurred since March of 2020. In particular, the webinar will include a discussion of the following:
- State proposals to shield processors from liability;
- Current status of enacted and proposed federal legislation relevant to agriculture;
- Noteworthy regulatory and programmatic developments, including the April 28 Executive Order on Food Supply Chain Resources and implementation of USDA’s Coronavirus Food Assistance Program; and
- Overview of key litigation filed as result of COVID-19.
Time and Date:
Wednesday, June 17th, 2020
12:00 – 1:00 (EST)
Participation:
This webinar is offered free of charge and is limited to the first 100 registrants. It is recommended that you test your computer for software compatibility prior to the webinar by clicking here.
This webinar was recorded on June 17th, 2020. To view a recording of this webinar, click here.
Presenter:
Harrison Pittman, Director of the National Agricultural Law Center
Harrison received his Juris Doctor from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law, after attending Mississippi State University and graduating from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. He then earned an LL.M. in Agricultural Law from the University of Arkansas School of Law’s Graduate Program in Agricultural Law. Harrison has worked at the Center since 2001. During that time, his title and job duties have spanned the range of graduate assistant, staff attorney, co-director, interim director and currently, director; in which capacity he has served since 2007.
He has taught at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law as part of the Ben J. Altheimer Distinguished Professorship for Agricultural Law, and has also served as a visiting professor at the Drake University Law School. In addition, he formerly taught Environmental and Natural Resources Law and Introduction to Agricultural Law in the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food, & Life Sciences, Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness. In that role, he was awarded the 2011-2012 Agricultural Business Club Teaching Award.
He is an active member of the American Agricultural Law Association (AALA), the nation’s only professional organization focused on the legal needs of the agricultural community, and was the first recipient of the AALA’s Excellence in Agricultural Law award in 2010. Additionally, he is an active member of the Arkansas Bar Association, where he helped found the Agricultural Law Section, later served as interim chair and chair, and currently serves as vice-chair. He is a frequent presenter on a range of topics and issues, including the farm bill, water law, and environmental law. He has authored articles on numerous subjects, including the National Organic Program, the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act, the constitutionality of corporate farming laws, pesticide regulation and litigation, agritourism, states’ recreational use statutes, the Packers and Stockyards Act, agricultural bankruptcy issues, and environmental laws impacting agriculture.
Research & Materials: