Business

WOTUS and ‘Lawfare’ Emerge as Defining Terms in Agriculture Law for 2025

Roger McEowen, with the Washburn School of Law, offers an in-depth look at two of the top legal issues of 202. Today, he walks through last year’s Waters of the United States (WOTUS) ruling and “lawfare.”

January 27, 2026 02:53 PM • 
Marion Kirkpatrick, RFD NEWS STAFF

TOPEKA, Kan. (RFD NEWS) — We continue our countdown of the Top 10 Agricultural Law Developments from 2025, highlighting key legal issues that could impact farmers and ranchers in the year ahead. From property rights to input regulations, several developments rose to the top of the list.

Roger McEowen with the Washburn School of Law joined us on Tuesday’s Market Day Report to break down his #3 and #2 top legal issues heading into the new year.

In his interview with RFD NEWS, McEowen explained issue #3 — the growing concept of “lawfare” in American agriculture — and how legal strategies increasingly used to influence policy and land use became a central theme in 2025. He also discussed what that trend could mean for farmers, ranchers, and land management agencies moving forward.

Coming in at #2 on McEowen’s list is a familiar issue for the ag community—the ongoing saga surrounding the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) ruling. He reviewed the major developments from 2025 and shared his expectations for how the final rule could take shape.

READ MORE: FIRM TO FARM

Related Stories
no-tresspassing sign_adobe stock.png
Firm to Farm
Firm to Farm: Title Fraud Crisis Escalating in Farmland Real Estate
Agricultural property presents unique opportunities for scammers to impersonate landowners and attempt to sell rural property they do not own. And in many cases, they are getting dangerously close to succeeding.
May 25, 2026 07:00 PM
 · 
Roger A. McEowen
american flag wheat sunset_adobe stock.png
Weather News
Rain Slows Southern Wheat Harvest As Quality Develops
Early wheat harvest is moving, but rain, drought stress, and disease pressure will determine yield and quality.
May 25, 2026 07:00 AM
 · 
Tony St. James
6xEyHPwO.jpg
Rural Health
Falls and Tractor Rollovers Continue Driving Farm Injuries and Deaths
University of Wisconsin-Madison’s John Shutske says simple safety habits can help prevent some of agriculture’s most common injuries.
May 23, 2026 07:00 PM
 · 
Neal Burnette-Irwin
LNTeM5NU.jpg
Washington Policy
NCBA Members Take Cattle Industry Concerns to Capitol Hill
Cattle producers met with lawmakers to discuss the issues continuing to impact ranchers across the country.
May 23, 2026 03:00 PM
 · 
Neal Burnette-Irwin
DFq2BYRG.jpg
Business
Moly Manufacturing Highlights Innovation and Safety in Livestock Handling
Founder Jon Mollhagen says automation continues playing a larger role in reducing labor demands and animal stress.
May 23, 2026 11:00 AM
 · 
Neal Burnette-Irwin
texas farming stock photo_adobe stock.png
Energy
Texas Agriculture Leaders Push Back on Expanding Data Center Footprint
Commissioner Sid Miller says productive farmland, water resources, and rural infrastructure are increasingly under pressure as data centers continue growing across Texas.
May 23, 2026 08:00 AM
 · 
Frank McCaffrey
Load More

Environmental Law WOTUS Land & Water Management EPA Industry Concerns Ag Education & Resources
Marion Kirkpatrick
Marion Kirkpatrick
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:

split interest transactions_adobe stock.png
Firm to Farm
Firm to Farm: Split Interest Land Acquisitions — Is It for You? (Part 1)
A split-interest transaction involves one party acquiring a temporary interest in the asset (such as a term certain or life estate), with the other party acquiring a remainder interest. That is the topic of today’s Firm to Farm blog post by RFD-TV Agrilegal Expert Roger A. McEowen.
November 01, 2023 09:00 AM
 · 
Roger A. McEowen
wtfcf bts 2.png
Where the Food Comes From
Behind-the-Scenes of WTFCF S4, E5: Splenda Stevia Farms, A New American Industry
Show producer Donna Sanders shares her perspective on filming the latest episode of Where the Food Comes From at Splenda Stevia Farms, a company growing a sweet specialty crop here in the U.S. that is typically imported from overseas.
November 01, 2023 09:00 AM
 · 
RFD NEWS STAFF
farming taxes accounting money_adobe stock.png
Firm to Farm
Firm to Farm: Reporting of Beneficial Ownership Information & Other Ag Law and Tax Topics
As I try to catch up on my writing after being on the road for a lengthy time, I have several recurring themes in my legal work. Another potpourri of random ag law and tax issues — that is the topic of today’s Firm to Farm blog post by RFD-TV Agrilegal Expert Roger McEowen.
October 31, 2023 02:21 PM
 · 
Roger A. McEowen
WTFCF_S4E5_BS_Mast.jpg
Where the Food Comes From
WTFCF S4, E5 Bonus Scene: Splenda Stevia Farms, A New American Industry
Splenda’s new stevia farm in Florida is the first of its kind in the United States. Thousands of plants produce millions of leaves that are then turned into plant-based stevia sweetener products. But how do they get the sweet stuff out?
October 31, 2023 09:00 AM
 · 
RFD NEWS STAFF
h0kRiWAz.jpg
Business
Gov. Huckabee Sanders explains Arkansas’ plan to reduce Chinese-owned Syngenta’s land ownership in the state
Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders spoke with RFD-TV’s own Susan Alexander this Monday morning on the Market Day Report to explain Arkansas’s recently passed giving lawmakers greater authority to sanction foreign ag-land ownership within the state.
October 30, 2023 12:51 PM
 · 
Marion Kirkpatrick
WTFCF_S4E5_SP_Mast.jpg
Where the Food Comes From
WTFCF S4, E5 Sneak Peek: Splenda Stevia Farms, A New American Industry
What does Splenda have to do with farming? Sweeteners like monk fruit and stevia are plant-based — so they are just not sugar, but are comprised of those other plants also grown on farms.
October 30, 2023 09:00 AM
 · 
RFD NEWS STAFF
Load More