Navigating New Data Collection and Use Agreements in Agriculture

Todd Janzen with Janzen Schroeder Ag Law explains the updated ag data use agreement model and what it means for farmers and companies alike.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (RFD NEWS) — Updates are being made to agricultural data use agreements, with a new model introducing enhanced policies for companies that collect data from farmers. The updated framework is designed to reflect the growing number of platforms and technologies being used across agriculture.

Todd Janzen with Janzen Schroeder Ag Law joined us on Thursday’s Market Day Report to provide background on the updated model and explain how it came together.

In his interview with RFD NEWS, Janzen outlined why data use agreements need to evolve alongside technology and walked through key highlights included in the new version. He also discussed ag data ownership, which is a major concern for farmers, and what the new model says about how data is handled.

Janzen emphasized the importance of having updated contracts in place as data collection and digital tools continue to expand across the industry.

Related Stories
Last year was a busy year for pesticide litigation in the United States. At No. 10, it kicks off RFD-TV Legal Expert Roger McEowen’s list of the “Top 10” Agricultural Law and Tax Developments of 2025.
On a spreadsheet, it looks like the ultimate way to harvest extra profit. But in the eyes of the IRS—as RFD-TV Farm Legal & Tax Expert Roger McEowen explains—this “tax-free” bank can quickly turn into a field full of weeds.
USDA data indicates that 13.7 percent of U.S. households experienced food insecurity in 2024, the highest rate since 2014, even as most households remained food secure.
Read the full press release published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
A narrower Section 1071 rule could reduce regulatory pressure on ag lenders while keeping credit available in rural communities.

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:

UMN Extension’s Emily Krekelberg outlines today’s top farm stressors, key signs of mental health distress in rural communities, and the resources available for support.
National Pork Board Chief Sustainability Officer Jamie Burr shares a closer look at the Pork Checkoff’s Pork Cares Farm Impact Report, a research program to increase trust in the pork supply chain.
Brooks York with Agrisompo joined us on Monday’s Market Day Report with some guidance on how producers can navigate their crop insurance claims for unsold grain crops.
Manure from a hog farm is more than just waste; it is also becoming a key renewable resource for operations.
USDA released the November WASDE Report on Friday, the first supply-and-demand estimate to drop since September, just before the 43-day government shutdown.
The request follows pressure from the American Sheep Industry Association (ASIA), which called for a formal investigation into whether lamb imports from Australia and New Zealand have cut into the U.S. market share.
Agriculture Shows
Hosted by Scott “The Cow Guy” Shellady and RFD News Markets Specialist Tony St. James, Commodity Talk delivers expert insight into the day’s ag commodity markets just before the CME opens. Only on RFD-TV and Rural Radio SiriusXM Channel 147.
A look at the news, weather and commodities headlines that drove agriculture markets in the past week.
Everything profits from prairie. Soil, air, water — and all kinds of life! Learn how you can improve your land with prairie restoration, cover crops and prairie strips, while growing your bottom line.
Special 3-part series tells the story of the Claas family’s legacy, which changed agriculture forever.