“Firm to Farm,” the RFD-TV Business Blog by agri-legal expert Roger McEowen, dives into the agricultural law and business taxation topics important to American farmers.
Contracts
As federal policy shifts toward greater tribal sovereignty, farmers and ranchers (and their legal counsel) must prioritize clear, written contracts and stay engaged with state legislative developments and tribal council updates.
Curing title defects in an agricultural context requires a blend of traditional real estate law and a deep understanding of rural land use history.
The agricultural installment land contract remains a sophisticated tool for transitioning farm assets, but its success depends entirely on the technical integrity of the written agreement.
Secured Transactions
In agricultural transactions, timing is often far more than a matter of convenience. A delayed closing or missed payment can lead to a major financial problem.
Did the Kansas Court of Appeals Go Too Far in Clark v. McKee?
What are the relative advantages and disadvantages of the split-interest transaction? And what are the rules when property that was acquired in a split-interest transaction is sold? That is the topic of today’s blog post by RFD-TV Agri-Legal Expert Roger McEowen.
Bankruptcy
RFD-TV Farm Legal and Tax Expert Roger McEowen with the Washburn School of Law dives into a “potpourri” of ag tax and law-related issues in his latest Firm to Farm blog post.
What is “gross income from farming” for purposes of Chapter 12 (farm) bankruptcy – that is the topic of today’s Firm to Farm blog post by Roger McEowen.
Today’s blog post by RFD-TV Agri-Legal Expert Roger McEowen takes a look at the “preferential payment rule,” a unique bankruptcy provision that can come as a suprise to farmers in financial distress.
Farmland Real Estate
A family settlement agreement is one method to resolve financial conflicts among family members over assets—if executed properly, that is.
In this Firm to Farm blog post, RFD-TV agri-legal expert Roger McEowen tackles a handful of topics related to property rights.
In part six of his blog series,"Top 10 Developments in Ag Law and Tax in 2023,” farm legal expert Roger McEowen tackles issue #2, foreign ownership of ag land.

Want more agri-legal insights from Roger McEowen?

Catch his regular appearances on RFD-TV’s Market Day Report.

Every day on RFD Network, “Market Day Report” delivers LIVE coverage of agribusiness news, weather, and commodity market information from across the world. Our commodity markets coverage is updated every half hour to bringyou the latest agriculture news.
RFD-TV Ag Law & Tax Expert Roger McEowen outlines the top ten agricultural law and taxation topics from 2024 that will impact farmers and ranchers the most in 2025.
“Producers want those options for identification and traceability purposes that they were promised back in 2013, and that’s what made it controversial.”
Latest Stories: Business
Analysts say drought, tight cattle supplies and summer grilling demand continue shaping the protein market outlook.
Some producers remain optimistic about farmland markets while others point to growing pressure on margins and income.
New data from ag-tech company Bushel suggests younger producers are beginning to play a larger role in farm decision-making across the country.
CECU President and CEO Jason Altmire discusses rural workforce shortages, technical skills, and why hands-on labor remains critical despite AI growth.
Soybeans accounted for nearly half of the $15 billion in losses on U.S. ag exports to China due to tariffs, according to researchers at North Dakota State University.
Feed grain supplies may tighten in 2026/27, supporting higher corn and sorghum prices despite large crops.
USDA says federal biofuel policy and growing renewable diesel capacity are increasing demand for feedstocks.
USDA says growing soybean output and expanding biofuel demand are helping drive the increase.
Industry leaders say restored access is a major step forward, though exports remain well below previous levels.
Texas A&M economist John Robinson says speculative buying helped push ICE cotton futures sharply higher.
Changes to several Risk Management Agency programs are set to begin with the 2027 crop year.
For farmers, better data may not solve every local rail problem, but it can make service failures easier to document.