Prerequisites: None

Exam Type: No Exam

This reading group will provide an overview of different areas of agricultural law that impact food production in the United States. As an increasing number of individuals are concerned about the health, safety, environmental, and human rights impacts of the foods they eat, it is increasingly important to understand the multitude of laws that impact food production and, consequently, the economic incentives that those laws create. A core facet of the reading group will be examining the impact that agricultural law and policy has on consumers. While most of these laws govern relationships along the supply chain well before food reaches consumers, they have a meaningful impact on food systems while largely remaining out of sight.

Readings will primarily consist of cases, reports, articles, and book excerpts from a variety of experts. The reading group will start with readings about major programs authorized by the Farm Bill, turning to programs that impact how farmers and ranchers are able to market and sell their products through marketing orders, and checkoff programs that fund marketing efforts like the “Got Milk?” campaign. Next, the group will look at several laws that regulate relationships between farmers and ranchers, and those they sell their products to, including wholesalers, grocery stores, and slaughterhouses. The group will then examine intellectual property laws as they apply to food and agriculture, examining who owns what, and who pays and benefits from research and development. Last, the group will examine agricultural cooperatives, their potential benefits and challenges, how they comport with antitrust law, and whether they can be used to counter increased agribusiness consolidation. Over the course of the semester, students will examine and discuss competing policy interests across these substantive areas of law, including whose interests are the laws designed to protect; market forces impacting enforcement of the law today; tensions between consumers, farmers and ranchers, retailers, and food manufacturers, as each party tries to protect their own interests; and reforms that may be necessary given the competing interests in society today.

Note: This reading group will meet on the following dates: TBD.