Managing Legal Risks in the Direct Farm Business Webinars, Illinois

Webinars Guide Direct Farm Businesses Through Legal Maze (From Illinois Ag Connection)

University of Illinois county Extension offices will host the upcoming webinar, "Managing Legal Risks in the Direct Farm Business," on Jan. 25 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. with a follow-up webinar on March 3, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. A. Bryan Endres, associate professor of agricultural law at the University of Illinois, and attorney Nicholas R. Johnson have developed the webinar to clarify some of the unique legal issues pertaining to direct farm businesses and to guide direct farm business owners through the maze of laws. The webinars will be held at 20 locations throughout Illinois. Find a link to registration below.

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“In today’s food marketplace, more health-conscious consumers are seeking out local sources of food, and they are increasingly turning to direct farm businesses such as farmers’ markets, roadside stands, and U-pick operations to fill their needs,” Endres said.

“The farmers who run these businesses stand to benefit greatly from the increased demand, but in order to manage a successful direct farm businesses, owners need to navigate a labyrinth of laws and regulations. These laws are implemented and enforced by more than a dozen local, state, and federal government authorities that each have their own (sometimes overlapping) requirements. Just figuring out who to contact about a particular law or regulation can sometimes be a daunting task. This webinar will help guide farmers through it.”

The webinar will look at general business topics such as taxation, labor and employment, business planning and setup, rules and regulations that apply to specific direct farm business products (such as dairy, eggs, grains, honey, livestock and poultry, fruits and vegetables, and organic produce), and other legal issues that may arise in the context of establishing and operating a direct farm business.

The follow-up webinar on Mar. 3 will address questions on issues that came up in the first webinar and provide an opportunity for participants to ask additional questions.

For complete information about locations and to register, visit the website or contact Deborah Cavanaugh-Grant at cvnghgrn@illinois.edu or 217-968-5583.

The webinars are sponsored by the Illinois Council on Food and Agricultural Research (CFAR), North Central Risk Management Center, and University of Illinois Extension