Farm Commons

In this episode, Rich Lavigne, our Staff Attorney for Special Projects, shares innovaitve hiring tools farmers can utilize to meet their labor challeneges — hint: these tools are business structures! Tune into our conversation about the Innovative Labor Models project in collaboartion with New Entry Sustainable Farming Project, out of Tufts University’s Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, to hear about the potential of collaborative hiring models, how they can address labor challenges farmers face AND align with their core values, as well as so much more.

Intro Music: “Easy Lemon” from Royalty Free by Kevin MacLeod. Released: 2012.

Farming is tough, and starting a farm business during a global pandemic can be even tougher. In this episode, our staff member Taylor Coons shares key tips to help you start up your farm business with strong legal footing during this tumultuous time. We cover important conversations to have when leasing land and setting up your business structure, as well as insurance insights and what it means to have workers on your farm, legally speaking. Be sure to check out the resources we mention in the links below (hyperlinked on website only) to support you along your start-up journey.

Resource links:

• Farmers’ Guide to Business Structures

Disclaimer: These resources are provided by Farm Commons for educational purposes only and are not legal counseling. No attorney-client relationship is created, nor is there any offer to provide legal services by the distribution of these publications. Always consult an attorney before relying on the information in these resources.

“Easy Lemon” from Royalty Free by Kevin MacLeod. Released: 2012.

Agriculture in the United States was established on, with, and by the system of slavery – being the enslavement of black people by white people. Since the first people from Africa arrived on U.S. shores in 1619 into the system of enslavement, the legacy of oppression, racism, and discrimination has been passed down from generation to generation. Today, we see this in many areas of agriculture, especially the law. In this episode, we take a hard look at discrimination in the legal areas of lending and farmland access — how it works, what’s been done about it, and share supporting resources in these areas of law for black, indigenous, and peopler of color farming communities.

Resources Mentioned:

Southern Rural Development Center (SRCD)
SRDC Heirs’ Property presentation (YouTube video)
Tuskegee University Heir Property (PowerPoint Presentation)
Farming While Black by Leah Penniman of Soul Fire Farm
Family Agriculture Resource Management Service (FARMS)
Land Loss Prevention Project
RAFI-USA Farmer Hotline
FLAG Farmer Hotline: 877-860-4349

Disclaimer: These resources are provided by Farm Commons for educational purposes only and are not legal counseling. No attorney-client relationship is created, nor is there any offer to provide legal services by the distribution of these publications. Always consult an attorney before relying on the information in these resources.

“Easy Lemon” from Royalty Free by Kevin MacLeod. Released: 2012.