Agriculture Law Education Initiative

Permanent URI for this communityhttp://hdl.handle.net/1903/15555

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    Aligning Renewable Energy Goals with Rural Land Use: Educational Needs for Solar Development Contracts in New York and Maryland
    (2024) Thilmany, Elizabeth; Goeringer, Paul; Kay, David; Chatrchyan, Allison
    The rapid expansion of utility-scale solar projects in the U.S. brings opportunities and challenges to rural communities, affecting land use and agricultural practices. This growth, fueled by falling costs and supportive government policies, prompts states to diversify their energy portfolios with more renewables, creating tension over agricultural land use for solar development. Maryland and New York’s ambitious renewable energy targets highlight the urgency of a nuanced understanding of these issues. Our research emphasizes the importance of spatially informed decision-making at the individual landowner level to effectively address potential zoning and land-use conflicts. Preliminary findings suggest a significant need for educational resources that help landowners navigate negotiations and mitigate agricultural impacts. Additionally, our work identifies a gap in the knowledge base of rural attorneys, who require more comprehensive information to support landowners in the complex realm of solar energy contracts. By focusing on the specific needs of rural communities, our study aims to promote equitable large-scale, ground-mounted solar development. This involves shaping policy interventions and offering targeted educational resources to ensure solar expansion meets clean energy goals while respecting rural land-use realities.
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    Property Ownership and Transferring Are Important Features of Your Farm Succession Plan
    (2017-02) Goeringer, Paul
    Many people think an estate plan is just a will, but it is much more than that. Your estate plan will typically include documents and tools to distribute your property according to your wishes following your death. When it comes to transitioning your farm or any family business to the next generation, how property is owned and the property transfers prior to your death can be important features of your succession plan or estate plan. Titling property in a joint tenancy with rights of survivorship allows you to choose who inherits upon your death and to transfer the property outside the will. Transferring property, such as through gifting, allows property to go to the next generation prior to your death and provides control over who gets your property.
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    How to Lease Your Land With a Conservation Easement
    (2016-09) Suri, Mayhah; Goeringer, Paul
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    Agricultural Water Law in Maryland: The Water Appropriation Application Process and Use in a Time of Drought
    (2016-08) Ellixson, Ashley; Everhart, Sarah
    To conserve and protect the State's water resources the State of Maryland controls the appropriation or use of its surface waters and groundwater. State law requires all agricultural operations to comply with the water appropriation permitting process, including traditional forms of agriculture, livestock and poultry operations, nursery operations and aquaculture.
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    Solar Energy Leasing on the Farm
    (2016-06-27) Ferrell, Shannon
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    Protecting the Family Farm in Divorce
    (2016-06) Everhart, Sarah
    Nearly half of all U.S. marriages end in divorce, but how do divorces impact farmers? What can farmers do to protect their property and assets from the financial devastation of divorce? How can an extended family use estate planning to protect the family farm from divorce?
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    Maryland Farm Internships and Labor Laws
    (2016-05) Everhart, Sarah
    Many farms across Maryland use interns to lighten the overall farm workload and help young people gain practical farming knowledge. Although interns can be a welcome addition to a farm’s workforce, farm employers need to be aware of how to properly compensate interns and the legal consequences of adding them to the payroll.