Category Archives: Horse Slaughter

January 3, 2014 Weekly Update

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**This article is not a substitute for the advice of an attorney.** Happy New Year!  Here are some of the ag law stories in the news this first week of 2014. *EPA Appeals Alt Decision.  The EPA has filed an appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit in Alt v. EPA.  As you read about on this prior blog, the trial court found that manure runoff from the Alt farm constituted agricultural storm runoff and, therefore, was not required to obtain a NPDES… Read More →

December 20, 2013 Weekly Round Up

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**This article is not a substitute for the advice of an attorney.** Here are some of the ag law-related stories making the news this week. *  Dallas Passes Strict Fracking Limitation.  The City of Dallas voted last week to impose one of the strictest fracking ordinances in the country, requiring oil wells to be 1500 feet away from “protected areas” including homes, schools, and churches.  This ordinance greatly increases the set back distance, which currently is 300 feet.  [Read article here.] *  New York Times Article Focuses on Rio… Read More →

Breaking News: 10th Circuit Lifts Injunction in Horse Slaughter Case

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As you may recall from this prior post, the plaintiffs in Front Range Equine Rescue v. Vilsack requested and received an emergency injunction in early November to prevent horse slaughter plants from being inspected pending appeal of the case to the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit.  That injunction was lifted on Friday, December 13, 2013, allowing horse slaughter plants to move towards commencing operations. The Tenth Circuit lifted the injunction finding that the plaintiffs “failed to met their burden for an injunction pending appeal.”  Specifically, the… Read More →

Additional Breaking News: Tenth Circuit Issues Temporary Stay in Horse Slaughter Case

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**This article is not a substitute for the advice of an attorney.** The United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit has issued a temporary stay of Judge Christina Armijo’s November 1, 2013 decision that would have allowed federal agencies to conduct inspections of potential horse slaughter facilities, thereby allowing horse slaughter to resume in the United States. The Plaintiffs in the case (which include numerous animal rights groups and activists as well as the State of New Mexico) filed an Emergency Motion for Injunction Pending Appeal… Read More →

Breaking News: Federal Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Prohibiting Opening of Horse Slaughter Plants

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**This article is not a substitute for the advice of an attorney.** On Friday afternoon, federal Judge Christina Armijo dismissed a lawsuit and denied an injunction sought by animal rights groups, including the Humane Society of the United States, that would have prevented plants in New Mexico and Missouri from slaughtering horses. Background Under federal law, the Food Safety Inspection Service (“FSIS”) must inspect all species, including horses, before they are allowed to be slaughtered and the meat sold in commerce.  Without this inspection, slaughter houses may not operate.  In December 2011, Valley Meat… Read More →

August 16, 2013 Weekly Round Up

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**This article is not a substitute for the advice of an attorney.** Here are a few ag law items making the news this week.   * AQHA Case Update.  Many of you were interested in the blog post last week discussing the recent jury verdict against the American Quarter Horse Association’s ban on registration of cloned animals.  This week, the judge in that case entered an injunction that requires the AQHA to begin registering clones and their offspring.  The judge also considered the plaintiffs’ claim seeking to recover nearly $900,000 in attorney fees from… Read More →

August 9, 2013 Weekly Round Up

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**This article is not a substitute for the advice of an attorney.** Earlier this week I participated in the Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course here in College Station.  It is an amazing event and it was great to see so many cattle producers (and cowboy hats!) around campus.  For new readers joining us from Short Course, welcome!  Here are a few ag law stories making headlines this week. * Whopping Cranes Could Harm Water Supply.  On Thursday the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit Court… Read More →

July 26, 2013 Weekly Round Up

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**This article is not a substitute for the advice of an attorney.** Here are a few ag law stories that were in the news this week.  I hope everyone enjoys the last weekend in July–the summer is flying by! 1.  A new federal study reports that climate change will make it increasingly difficult for New Mexico to meet its legal obligations to deliver water downstream under various water compacts.  This includes concern over deliveries from New Mexico to Texas under the Rio Grande Compact.  [Read article here.] 2.  North Dakota has… Read More →

July 5, 2013 Weekly Round Up

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**This article is not a substitute for the advice of an attorney.** I hope everyone had a great time celebrating the Red, White and Blue yesterday for the Fourth of July.  Here is this week’s round up of interesting stories related to agricultural law.   *  The Senate passed a comprehensive immigration reform bill last Friday. [Read the bill’s full text here.]  Included in the Senate bill is a section titled the “Agricultural Worker Program.”  This portion of the bill provides a method for undocumented individuals who have been involved… Read More →