Kentucky's 67,700 farms represent an untapped opportunity in the voluntary carbon credit market, but transaction costs have kept small farmers on the sidelines of a rapidly developing global credit supply. In this blog, 2L staffer Spencer Harris argues that the Kentucky Agricultural Development Board already holds the mandate and the money through the state's $2.8 billion share of the Tobacco Master Settlement. This money can be used to subsidize the verification costs that stand between tobacco-legacy farmers and a new, recurring income stream.
In this blog, 3L senior staffer Caidan Drenk examines the growing tension between Kentucky’s statutory recognition of agritourism and the continued use of local zoning authority to regulate farm-based events such as weddings and festivals. He argues that although Kentucky law expressly recognizes these activities as agritourism, local land-use regulations can still create significant uncertainty for farmers seeking to diversify their operations. Drenk contends that the Kentucky General Assembly should clarify the relationship between agritourism statutes and local zoning authority to better protect working farms and promote agricultural sustainability.
In this blog, 2L staffer Braden Porter argues that courts reviewing pesticide registrations under the EPA should consider staying judgments, rather than vacating during active growing seasons. Porter explains that while vacatur can correct agency actions, the timing of the decisions can harm farmers who rely on federal registrations to plan for the planting and growing seasons. He argues that courts should exercise their discretion to delay the effects of vacatur and preserve their authority, while preventing disruption to seasonal industries such as agriculture.
In this blog, 2L staffer Luke Glasscock discusses how a nearly century-old safety net for farmers, dating back to the first farm bill in 1933, has given way to a federal crop insurance program that disproportionately benefits large farming operations. Glasscock contends that if federal crop insurance discouraged risk-taking in agricultural practices and subsidy caps were placed on large farms, not only could this economy of scale be reduced, but also more attention could be given to high-risk small farms.
In this blog, 2L staffer Jack Klier illustrates how the practice of home distillation brings up constitutional questions of taxation, public safety issues, and potential federal overreach. While a recent United States District Court ruling has raised important questions about Congress’s enumerated powers, Klier argues that the ruling is likely not strong enough on its merits to convince the Supreme Court to depart from its decision in Wickard.
NFTs are non-fungible token that many investors are extremely interested in investing and trading across the internet. Sadly though, NFTs rely largely on energy consumption where one command leaves the carbon footprint of watching Youtube for over a year. See what our recent alum, Fletcher Lyon, has to say about this and what he suggests to solve it!
With the rise of decriminalization of marijuana, expungement of this conviction from an individual’s record has become a hot topic. It is important to realize that although expungement is not an automatic process, but a voluntary process that many do not know about. With more African Americans being arrested for this crime versus white individuals, it is time to sit down and truly explore this problem.
When COVID-19 hit, the alcohol business in Kentucky took a hit as well. With business being closed and travel being restricted, Kentucky’s tourism in terms of the bourbon industry was not doing so good. To help save these businesses, representatives came together to develop a bill to implement the shipping of alcohol outside of state and inside of the state of Kentucky. This bill helped saved many bourbon businesses in Kentucky as well as other alcohol related business.
In his blog post, 2L staffer Trevor Payton discusses the history of the United States’ climate change fight and analyzes three different presidential administrations’ approaches to the issue. Here, Payton highlights the benefits to Biden re-entering the U.S. into the Paris Climate Agreement by way of executive action and assesses the implications going forward.
Florida and Georgia have been at odds for decades for water rights. In this piece by staffer Seth Stroud, he explores the legal battle that has made its way before the Supreme Court. He highlights the ramifications of the decision on which state will have its desired source of nature’s most important resource.
Zoonotic diseases not only impact the health and safety of people across the world but wreak havoc on the global economy as well. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the One Health approach to eradicating animal-based diseases is gaining traction—that is, taking a collaborative health approach for people and animals to understand their shared environment and work toward eliminating the spread of infectious diseases.
