Ohio Agricultural Law Symposium is May 16

Attorneys with Ohio State University Extension's Agricultural and Resource Law Program will offer a daylong legal conference May 16 designed to offer attorneys insight into key issues that affect farmers and agribusiness, organizers said.

From helping attorneys understand the new provisions of the 2014 farm bill to considering how legal tools can reduce the impact of nursing home costs and Medicaid for family farmers, the Ohio Agricultural Law Symposium is set to offer attorneys detailed information and updates on issues significant to the agricultural community, said Peggy Hall, director of OSU Extension's Agricultural and Resource Law Program.

OSU Extension is the statewide outreach arm of Ohio State's College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences.

One of the goals of this year's conference is to bring attorneys from all around the state together to spend time learning from each other and discussing legal issues affecting Ohio agriculture, she said. 

 "Agricultural law is a unique area of law that requires attorneys to understand both the special provisions that apply to agriculture and the agricultural industry itself," Hall said.

"Attorneys who understand agriculture and its laws benefit the agriculture industry as a whole and can best meet the legal needs of Ohio agriculture."

The conference, which will be held at Ohio State University's Nationwide and Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center, 2201 Fred Taylor Drive, in Columbus, runs from 8:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with registration beginning at 8 a.m. The conference offers 4.5 Continuing Legal Education credits for attorneys.

Conference sessions will include:

* The 2014 farm bill and federal farm policy.

* A roundtable discussion on guiding clients in today's agricultural climate.

* Nursing home costs and Medicaid: the one-two punch to the family farm.

* A discussion with several market farmers at the North Market on legal issues and challenges.

* Agritourism and direct marketing trends and liability issues.

* Legislative update.

* A bus tour of Ohio State's Waterman Farm.