Ag Law in the News: July 2026
By Sam Ellis & Cari Brett Rincker
Agricultural Law,
July 2026
Developments relevant to agricultural law include federal legislation and regulatory developments, environmental law and land use, trade and market regulation, energy and rural development, and Illinois-specific law updates.
Illinois Farm Vehicles and Implements of Husbandry: What Farmers Should Know Before Driving on Public Roads
By Sam Ellis & Cari Brett Rincker
Agricultural Law,
July 2026
During planting, spraying, harvest, and livestock work, farmers often need to move tractors, wagons, combines, nurse tanks, fertilizer equipment, and other machinery on public roads. The key question is usually not whether the vehicle is used by a farmer. The better question is whether the vehicle fits a specific Illinois Vehicle Code category and whether it is being operated in the way that the statute allows.
Rural Law Practice in the News
By Sam Ellis & Cari Brett Rincker
Rural Practice,
July 2026
While Illinois Courts Access to Justice Improvement Grant Program has closed for the 2026-2027 application period, proposals are anticipated to open in June 2027 for the 2027-2028 cycle; Iowa leaders convene to address rural legal deserts; rural public defense shortages receive national attention; Indiana selects inaugural Rural Practice Academy class; New Mexico considers alternative licensing to address rural shortages; Tennessee Symposium examines rural justice gap and regulatory reform; and new national research reviews rural access to justice service design.
Ag Law in the News
By Sam Ellis & Cari Brett Rincker
Agricultural Law,
June 2026
Recent developments related to agricultural law include advancement of the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026, the EPA continues to integrate pesticide oversight with the Endangered Species Act, federal regulators are pursuing enforcement actions aimed at data-sharing practices within agricultural markets, and more.
Rural Law Practice in the News
By Sam Ellis & Cari Brett Rincker
Rural Practice,
June 2026
Learn more about Illinois' expansion of Access to Justice funding and the Court Navigator Network; Indiana's Rural Practice Academy; Kansas's plan to offer financial incentives to entice attorneys to work in legal deserts; and collaborative and technology-based models have gained traction in rural communities.
Ag Law in the News
By Sam Ellis & Cari Brett Rincker
Agricultural Law,
April 2026
Earlier this year, the Trump Administration accelerated efforts to reshape federal pesticide regulation and liability standards; the EPA and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers continue to attempt to define "waters of the United States"; Governor Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Agriculture hosted the annual Illinois Agriculture Legislative Day last month; and more!
Rural Law Practice in the News
By Sam Ellis & Cari Brett Rincker
Rural Practice,
April 2026
News updates relating to rural legal practice, including judicial branch targeting rural access to justice, ARDC updates attorney registration to map rural shortages, continued development of Illinois Community Justice Worker Program, and more!
Ag Law in the News
By Sam Ellis, Regan McGuill Booth, & Cari Brett Rincker
Agricultural Law,
December 2025
A summary of recent updates that impact the practice of agriculture law, including a resolution that reopened the federal government and extended the 2018 Farm Bill, launch of Screwworm.gov, an executive order eliminating tarrifs on certain imported agricultural products, and more!
Ag Law in the News
By Sam Ellis, Regan McGuill Booth, & Cari Brett Rincker
Agricultural Law,
November 2025
A compilation of developments that may impact the practice of agricultural law, including USDA legal battles, land use, agroterrorism, antitrust, and more!
Rural Law Practice in the News
By Regan McGuill Booth, Sam Ellis, & Cari Brett Rincker
Agricultural Law,
November 2025
Learn more about recent events that may be impacting the rural practice of law, including increasing legal deserts, incentives to bring attorneys to rural practice, and community-centered legal models.
Rural Law Practice in the News
By Regan McGuill Booth, Sam Ellis, & Cari Brett Rincker
Rural Practice,
October 2025
Learn more about recent events that may be impacting the rural practice of law, including increasing legal deserts, incentives to bring attorneys to rural practice, and community-centered legal models.
Ag Law in the News
By Cari Brett Rincker, Sam Ellis, & Regan McGuill Booth
Agricultural Law,
September 2025
Updates regarding the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, cattle and emissions regulations, USDA news, immigration, employment and labor, and antitrust that may impact your practice in the field of agricultural law.
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