Less stress. More farming
Legal
Legal services are often a key component of challenges confronting success for farm operations. According to the Farmers’ Legal Action Group, legal, business, financial or credit problems often underlie farmer stress. The services of an attorney or mediator can help resolve these issues, which reduces farmer stress and helps get the farm back to relatively normal operations.
Legal Assistance
Mediation
Many of Vermont’s farmers may be unfamiliar with attorneys and the services they offer. Even when an attorney’s guidance could significantly benefit a farms operation, many farmers still may not seek legal services. Or they may think it’s too expensive to involve a lawyer. In Vermont, we’re lucky to have legal services through the Legal Food Hub, which operates as a joint initiative between Conservation Law Foundation and Vermont Law School’s Center for Agriculture and Food Systems (CAFS). See the link in the right sidebar of this page to learn more.
Agriculture Mediation can help address legal issues on a farm by including a neutral third party as a mediator to assist in resolving dispute or conflict through negotiation. Sometimes. mediation can be used as an alternative to avoid a lawsuit. A mediator is far less expensive than using a lawyer. Here's how it works. The mediator meets with both parties and helps each party to agree on a solution that best meets all of their needs. The mediator does not impose any decision, but simply helps each party to communicate with one another to find a solution that can work for all. People are often very happy with this approach. It works best amongst reasonable parties who want to resolve a dispute inexpensively.
Other Resources
1. Vermont Ag Mediation Center
2. Legal Food Hub
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3. ​Farmers' Legal Action Group
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3. Contact us for help
Finding the right resource
Financial changes, license requirements, business planning, market challenges can be overwhelming. Conservation and preservation benefits, contracts, estate planning, wills, and tax challenges may often benefit from a knowledge of an attorney who understands the complex structures of farm operations.
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Farmers can contact Farm First to help identify the appropriate resources available and assist you in understanding eligibility requirements and offer guidance for completing applications to access these resources.
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