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Note: This website is intended to provide general information about legal issues, crop insurance, farm policy, and other risk management issues and should not be construed as providing legal advice. It should not be cited or relied upon as legal authority. For advice about how the issues discussed here might apply to your individual situation, you should consult an attorney.

Welcome to the Maryland Risk Management Education Blog, provided by the University of Maryland Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics. This blog provides readers with information on risk management issues important to Maryland agriculture, upcoming events, and new materials that may interest readers.

Produce Safety Rule Grower Training for the Lower Eastern Shore in December

Nicole Cook

4 days ago
3 min

Produce Safety Rule Grower Training for the Lower Eastern Shore in December

It’s been four years since growers on Maryland’s lower eastern shore have had a chance to attend an in-person Produce Safety Rule (PSR) Grower Training near them. The last one was at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) in December 2019. Now, UMES Extension and the Maryland Food Safety Network are very glad to announce that we are hosting a PSR Grower Training in Princess Anne on December 7th and 8th, and the training will be a hybrid format, which means people c

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USDA’S LISTENING SESSIONS AND UPDATES ON HISTORIC DEBT RELIEF

Nicole Cook

Oct 18
4 min

USDA’S LISTENING SESSIONS AND UPDATES ON HISTORIC DEBT RELIEF

This article is not a substitute for legal advice. See here for the site’s reposting policy. We’ve been keeping you updated on this blog about the many twists and turns of the historic debt relief for BIPOC farmers, which was originally provided for by Congress in the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), but which was subsequently repealed and replaced pursuant to the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) following lawsuits that halted distribution of relief payments to “socially disadv

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Update on USDA’s Heirs’ Property Relending Program

Nicole Cook

Sep 20
3 min

Update on USDA’s Heirs’ Property Relending Program

This article is not a substitute for legal advice. See here for the site’s reposting policy. As I wrote in a blog post a little over a year ago, in August 2021, the USDA announced tens of millions of dollars to help people resolve heirs’ property ownership and succession issues. The authority for that Heirs Property Relending Program (HPRP) comes from Section 5104 of the 2018 Farm Bill, in which Congress empowered the Farm Service Agency (FSA) to give money to qualified int

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Update On USDA’s Debt Relief Plan For Black And Socially Disadvantaged Farmers

Nicole Cook

Aug 30
4 min

Update On USDA’s Debt Relief Plan For Black And Socially Disadvantaged Farmers

This article is not a substitute for legal advice. See here for the site’s reposting policy. For the past year or so we’ve been keeping you informed about the historic debt relief for black farmers that was in Section 1005 of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and the subsequent lawsuits that halted distribution of the relief payments. Now, just two weeks ago, Congress passed and President Biden signed into law the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA), which specifically

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Maryland’s New Partition of Property Act: How It Restores Hope For Heirs’ Property Owners

Nicole Cook

Aug 9
3 min

Maryland’s New Partition of Property Act: How It Restores Hope For Heirs’ Property Owners

This article is not a substitute for legal advice. See here for the site’s reposting policy. In May, Maryland joined twenty-one other states that have enacted a version of the Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act. Maryland’s new “Partition Of Property Act” goes into effect October 1, 2022. The goal of the legislation is to help Maryland families preserve their families’ wealth and legacies in the form of real property that can be passed on to the next generation. The l

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OSHA Inspections Of Farms To Include Heat Preparedness

Nicole Cook

Jul 19
3 min

OSHA Inspections Of Farms To Include Heat Preparedness

We all know it’s hot outside. But, if you have workers on your farm, including yourself, then you should know that heat poses a particular health risk to farm workers. Heat-related safety issues are an important issue for farms of all sizes. But, if your farm is one that is large enough to be subject to federal OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) inspection, you should know that, on days where there is a heat advisory, even if OSHA inspectors are on your

75 views0 comments

$200 Million From USDA To Help Small Specialty Crop Growers With Food Safety Requirements

Nicole Cook

Jun 28
4 min

$200 Million From USDA To Help Small Specialty Crop Growers With Food Safety Requirements

This article is not a substitute for legal advice. See here for the site’s reposting policy. Are you a small or very small specialty crop producer? And have you had to pay costs to comply with regulatory food safety certification requirements or buyers’ food safety certification requirements? Then keep reading because the USDA has just announced plans to provide up to $200 million to help specialty crop growers offset eligible costs associated with obtaining or renewing re

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FSA Updates Farm Loan Programs To Increase Equity Among All Current Borrowers

Nicole Cook

Apr 26
3 min

FSA Updates Farm Loan Programs To Increase Equity Among All Current Borrowers

This article is not a substitute for legal advice. See here for the site’s reposting policy. In March, the USDA announced that it is updating its farm loan programs to allow FSA flexibility in working with existing borrowers who may be in non-compliance with their loan program requirements, if the borrower acted in good faith and relied on a material action of, advice of, or non-action from an FSA official. This change applies to all current borrowers, but may especially im

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Reduce Farm Labor Law Compliance Risk: Check Out DOL’s Online Sessions

Nicole Cook

Apr 5
2 min

Reduce Farm Labor Law Compliance Risk: Check Out DOL’s Online Sessions

This article is not a substitute for legal advice. See here for the site’s reposting policy. Do you have questions about Federal labor laws that apply to your farm workers? What about the H-2A Temporary Employment Certification requirements? Or, would you like to learn more about OSHA health and safety requirements for farm workers? Maybe you want a refresher on the Fair Labor Standards Act and child labor, or maybe how to comply with the Migrant and Seasonal Worker Prote

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CATCH THESE INFORMATIVE ONLINE EVENTS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE AND THE USDA

Nicole Cook

Feb 1
2 min

CATCH THESE INFORMATIVE ONLINE EVENTS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE AND THE USDA

This article is not a substitute for legal advice. See here for the site’s reposting policy. It’s February. It’s cold, dark and snowy. What better time to curl up in front of your computer and learn more about resources that might help you find funding to protect your forested land, help you grow your farm market, help bring broadband to your rural community and to your farm business, or help you learn more about technological innovations in climate mitigation and adaptatio

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FDA PROPOSES CHANGES TO PRODUCE SAFETY RULE AGRICULTURAL WATER REQUIREMENTS

Nicole Cook

Jan 11
4 min

FDA PROPOSES CHANGES TO PRODUCE SAFETY RULE AGRICULTURAL WATER REQUIREMENTS

This article is not a substitute for legal advice. See here for the site’s reposting policy. On December 6, 2021, the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) published a new proposed rule that revises the pre-harvest agricultural water requirements for covered produce (other than sprouts) (Subpart E of the Produce Safety Rule (PSR)). This is the latest step in the FDA’s implementation of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). The FDA is holding two virtual public meetings abou

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USDA Announces $75 Million to Fund Technical Assistance Programs for Underserved Producers

Nicole Cook

Dec 7, 2021
2 min

USDA Announces $75 Million to Fund Technical Assistance Programs for Underserved Producers

This article is not a substitute for legal advice. See here for the site’s reposting policy. The USDA announced on November 24, 2021, that it will provide $75 million in American Rescue Plan funding to 20 organizations to provide technical assistance and help connect underserved producers with USDA programs and services. USDA said that the organizations were selected for their proven track records working with underserved producer communities, including military veterans, be

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Negligent Entrustment Liability for Farm Employers

Nicole Cook

Oct 26, 2021
3 min

Negligent Entrustment Liability for Farm Employers

This article is not a substitute for legal advice. See here for the site’s reposting policy. It’s that time of year when we are sharing the road with harvesters. Hopefully everyone is being careful out there. I was recently asked about an employer’s liability if one of their farm workers causes an accident while driving a piece of farm equipment, and that made me think this might be a good time to talk about “negligent entrustment.” Employers can be held liable for accident

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USDA Announces $67 Million to Help Heirs Resolve Land Ownership and Succession Issues

Nicole Cook

Aug 3, 2021
3 min

USDA Announces $67 Million to Help Heirs Resolve Land Ownership and Succession Issues

This article is not a substitute for legal advice. See here for the site’s reposting policy. The USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) will host a webinar TODAY, Tuesday, August 3, 2021, at 3PM (Eastern) about the recently-announced Heirs Property Relending Program (HPRP). Keep reading for more information. As I wrote about last August in this blog, Section 5104 of the 2018 Farm Bill empowered FSA to give money to qualified intermediary lenders, including banks, cooperatives, cre

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Debt Relief Payments to “Socially Disadvantaged” Farmers On Hold Pending Lawsuit By White Farmers

Nicole Cook

Jun 22, 2021
4 min

Debt Relief Payments to “Socially Disadvantaged” Farmers On Hold Pending Lawsuit By White Farmers

This article is not a substitute for legal advice. See here for the site’s reposting policy. Co-Author: Ellis Collier, Senior Legal Research Associate for ALEI at UMES If you follow this blog, then you know we’ve been covering the historic debt relief program for "socially disadvantaged" farmers. But, as of June 10th, the payments that were expected to start being issued last month have been put on hold pending a lawsuit brought by white farmers. To learn more about what’s h

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What does the FDA think is a “reasonably foreseeable hazard” in produce safety?

Nicole Cook

Jun 1, 2021
4 min

What does the FDA think is a “reasonably foreseeable hazard” in produce safety?

This article is not a substitute for legal advice. See here for the site’s reposting policy. Farms subject to the FSMA Produce Safety Rule are required to take all measures reasonably necessary to identify, and not harvest, produce that is likely to be contaminated with a “known or reasonably foreseeable hazard.” But, what qualifies as a “reasonably foreseeable hazard?” According to the FDA, growers in central California should now consider a particular strain of E. coli a

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Nicole Cook

Apr 21, 2021
7 min

Navigating Maryland’s Open Burn Laws

This article is not a substitute for legal advice. See here for the site’s reposting policy. Burning things like trees, brush, residual crop vegetation, fertilizer bags, wood chips used for livestock bedding, bailing twine, even garbage can be a regular part of operating a farm. But, navigating Maryland’s laws governing open burning can be confusing. And, if you get it wrong, it can be costly. Keep reading for information about complying on your farm with Maryland’s open bur

2,920 views1 comment

Historic Debt Relief and Other Assistance for Black Farmers and Farmers of Color

Nicole Cook

Mar 30, 2021
5 min

Historic Debt Relief and Other Assistance for Black Farmers and Farmers of Color

This article is not a substitute for legal advice. See here for the site’s reposting policy. UPDATE: What's New? The USDA has started sending letters to direct loan borrowers who qualify for loan payoffs. What Do You Need To Do? Triple check that the amount of the loan debt provided in the letter is correct. Remember, it's the amount of the loan as of January 1, 2021. If the amount in the letter is correct, sign and return the letter as instructed in the letter. If you bel

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You Should Still be Using Best Efforts to Protect Your Farm Workers From COVID

Nicole Cook

Mar 9, 2021
5 min

You Should Still be Using Best Efforts to Protect Your Farm Workers From COVID

This article is not a substitute for legal advice. See here for the site’s reposting policy. It’s been a full year since Governor Hogan issued the first state of emergency for Maryland. Fortunately, we are seeing people getting vaccinated against COVID-19. However, COVID will continue to be a risk on our farms for at least the rest of the 2021 season, and using your best efforts to protect your farm workers from COVID still needs to be part of your farm risk management plan.

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Updates to the Paycheck Protection Program and COVID-19 Sick Leave

Sarah Everhart

Jan 12, 2021
3 min

Updates to the Paycheck Protection Program and COVID-19 Sick Leave

The article is not a substitute for legal advice. See here for the site’s reposting policy. On December 27, 2020, President Donald Trump signed into law the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (the Act). The Act contains many topics of interest to the farm community, this post, however, will focus on the impacts to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the federally mandated sick and family medical leave. To read more about previous versions of these, and other COVID-1

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