Key Legal Cases Impact Machinery, Meatpacking, and Land Use Rights

From meatpacking settlements to landmark NEPA rulings, Roger McEowen outlines the top legal developments in 2025 that will shape agriculture in the years ahead.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (RFD NEWS) — The countdown of the “Top 10” agricultural law developments from 2025 continues, highlighting legal issues from property rights to input regulations that could impact farmers and ranchers in the year ahead.

Roger McEowen with the Washburn School of Law joined us on Tuesday’s Market Day Report to explain how two antitrust cases and changes to NEPA last year will shape the future of ag policy.

In his interview with RFD NEWS, McEowen discussed antitrust issues in agriculture, including the right-to-repair movement and settlements in the meatpacking industry, noting a shift in 2025 toward market competition and producer autonomy. He also reviewed how the Farm Act built on this momentum.

The conversation then turned to a landmark Supreme Court ruling that narrowed the scope of the National Environmental Policy Act, with McEowen explaining the decision’s background and significance. He also addressed what the ruling could mean for traditional land-use rights moving forward.

READ MORE: Firm to Farm

Related Stories
Regulatory uncertainty could slow the growth of fiber and grain hemp unless implementation is delayed.
Jeramy Stephens of National Land Realty breaks down current trends in the farmland real estate market and how landowners should consider water availability and its impact on land values as they plan for the year ahead.
As cattle markets show renewed strength, producers gathering at CattleCon are focused on protecting operations, managing risk, and positioning for opportunity in the year ahead.
The Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo continues through Saturday, showcasing livestock, youth involvement, and agricultural talent, with the Junior Sale of Champions serving as the culmination of the 23-day event.
We caught up with John Deere’s Hay & Forage Got-To Market Manager Kaylene Ballesteros to learn how tech is evolving how producers make hay, from baling efficiency to operator confidence.
Mexico has fallen behind by several hundred thousand acre-feet in required water deliveries to the United States, a shortfall that has had devastating consequences across the Rio Grande Valley.

Marion is a digital content manager for RFD News and FarmHER + RanchHER. She started working for Rural Media Group in May 2022, bringing a decade of digital experience in broadcast media and some cooking experience to the team.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

ASFMRA’s Dennis Reyman discusses farmer sentiment, land values, and how global and financial pressures are shaping decision-making in the ag land market.
Richard Gupton of the Agricultural Retailers Association discusses the EPA’s new decision on over-the-top Dicamba and what it means for growers this year.
Mike Spier, president and CEO of U.S. Wheat Associates, discusses the new U.S.-Bangladesh trade agreement and its potential benefits for U.S. wheat growers.
Gretchen Kuck of the National Corn Growers Association joined us to discuss the Ag Coalition for USMCA’s report findings and expectations ahead of the upcoming USMCA review.
The agreement formalizes coordination between the two departments to address security concerns affecting U.S. agriculture.