Monthly Archives: August 2018

August 31, 2018 Weekly Round Up

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Welcome to the end of August!  I’m not sure how the summer has already flown by, but here we are.  This week I was in Stephenville in Tuesday for an agricultural leasing and law program.  We had a great turnout, so welcome to those of you joining from that event. Here are some of the ag law stories in the news this week. * Appellate court reverses trial court decision in Lost Pines GCD date.  Earlier this year, a Bastrop County judge held that the Lost Pines GCD… Read More →

Court Upholds Finding of Easement by Estoppel

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A recent decision out of the Corpus Christi Court of Appeals addresses the requirements to prove an easement by estoppel and offers some good reminders for Texas landowners when dealing with access easements. Background This case involves a dispute over a road between two pieces of property, one owned by the Cores family and another by LaBorde Properties.  The road had been in place even before the Cores and LaBordes owned the land and was created to allow landlocked landowners with property south of the Cores’ land to… Read More →

August 24, 2018 Weekly Round Up

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Happy Friday!  This week I traveled to Paducah on Tuesday to present on hunting leases at the Cottle County Wildlife Conference.  Welcome to those of you joining from that meeting. Here are some of the ag law stories in the news. * 2015 WOTUS rule now in effect in 26 states, including Texas.  The legal wrangling over the Environmental Protection Agency’s 2015 WOTUS rule continues.  As you may recall, the EPA previously suspended the implementation of the rule until 2020, giving the agency time to promulgate and publish… Read More →

Questions from Tiffany’s Desk: What Documentation Should I Have for Hunters on My Property?

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Question:  I’m leasing out my land to hunters this year.  What type of documentation should I obtain from them? Answer:  This is a common question asked by Texas landowners.  They want to allow their friends, family, or the public to enter their property for activities like hunting, fishing, or swimming, but also want to protect themselves against liability.  I recommend three documents be signed by and collected from each person entering the property for a recreational use, such as hunting. Hunting Lease.  All landowners should require a hunting… Read More →

August 17, 2018 Weekly Round Up

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Hello there!  It’s been another busy week here on the High Plains!  On Wednesday, I gave a webinar for the Texas A&M University Think Tank committee on using blogs, podcasts, and social media in Extension programming and today I’m offering a webinar for the Houston County New Landowner’s Series on ag law.  This evening, I’m headed to San Angelo to speak tomorrow at the TAMU Sheep & Goat Expo.  Welcome to those of you joining us from these programs. Here are some of the ag law stories in… Read More →

2018 NASS US and State Cash Rent Survey Results Published

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August is here, which means that the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service has published its survey results showing average cash rental rates by state.  Next month, they will issue their report breaking this information down within each state by region and county.  Stay tuned for that information the second week of September. The 2018 NASS report offers average rental rates for irrigated cropland, non-irrigated cropland and pastureland across the country.  Lands used for haying or CRP are considered to be cropland, rather than pastureland.  The 2018 results are… Read More →

Recorded Webinar: Ranchers Agricultural Leasing Webinar

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Ranchers Leasing Workshop is now available on demand to be taken anytime at your own pace. To register click here. Earlier this month, we hosted a Ranchers Agricultural Leasing Webinar focused on grazing and hunting leases.  We had a great turn out and many compliments on the program being useful and practical for landowners and producers. Pete Flores in the Ecosystem Science & Management Department was kind enough to handle all of the logistics, hosting duties, and he recorded the webinar for folks unable to attend. View recording… Read More →

August 10, 2018 Weekly Round Up

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I’m back from a great time in College Station at the TAMU Beef Cattle Short Course.  It’s an excellent event and is attended each year by over 2,000 cattle producers.  I spoke three times on various agricultural law issues and had a great time.   Welcome to those of you joining from BCSC.  To read more about this event, click here. Here are some of the ag law stories in the news this week. * NM State Engineer dismisses groundwater pumping permit for San Augustin Ranch.  For years, I’ve… Read More →

College Students Should Add Powers of Attorney to Back-to-School Checklist

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When we think of the long list of items that college students need to think about before heading back to campus in the fall, legal documents are likely not high on the list.  However, college students should consider executing a power of attorney, medical power of attorney, and a HIPAA disclosure authorization before leaving home. Once children reach 18 years of age, their parents are no longer able to automatically make medical or financial decisions on behalf of the child.  Similarly, parents are not privy to medical information… Read More →