Forever Chemicals and the Family Farm: What NC Growers Need to Know About PFAS on Agricultural Land
May 26, 2026
North Carolina’s farmers face a new contamination risk, and for many, the source may already be in their soil. What Are PFAS, and Why…
News + Insights
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Growth, Pressure, and Planning: Why North Carolina Farmers Need Legal Counsel Now More Than Ever
April 14, 2026
Most farmers did not get into farming because they dreamed of sitting across a table from an attorney. They got into farming because they…
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Easier? U.S. Department of Labor Publishes 146-Page Notice with Proposed Regulations to “Make it Easier” to Distinguish Employees from Independent Contractors
March 5, 2026
“The nine most terrifying words in the English language are ‘I’m from the government, and I’m here to help.'” — President Ronald Reagan, August…
Firm News
A Proud Sponsor of ASAP’s 2026 Business of Farming Conference
February 16, 2026
At Ward and Smith, we believe in backing the people behind local food. Supporting farmers means supporting the businesses, families, and communities that sustain…
Firm News
Ward and Smith Attorneys to Speak at ASAP’s 2026 Business of Farming Conference
February 5, 2026
Farmers face a wide range of legal questions as they start, grow, and transition their operations. On February 28, attendees at the ASAP Business…
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Legal Risks in Horse Boarding Contracts Under North Carolina Law and How to Avoid Them
December 9, 2025
Operating a large boarding facility in North Carolina is rewarding and complex. Stable owners juggle the responsibilities of animal care, property management, staffing, and…
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What North Carolina Horse Boarding Operations Can Do When Owners Don’t Pay Board and Abandon Their Horse
December 2, 2025
Running a horse boarding business comes with its share of challenges. One of the most difficult situations is when a horse owner stops paying…
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Legal Considerations for Insuring an Equine Business: Guidance for Boarding Stables and Event Hosts
August 5, 2025
While passion and deep industry knowledge often fuel the operations of equine businesses—such as boarding stables, riding schools, and equine event venues—a healthy dose…
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Hurricane Preparedness: Essential Legal Topics for North Carolina Business Owners
July 25, 2025
Hurricane season presents significant legal and operational challenges for North Carolina businesses. Whether it’s a hurricane hammering your business, floodwaters threatening your property, hail…
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Long-Term Care and the Family Farm: Legal Planning to Preserve Agricultural Assets
June 27, 2025
For many farming families, preserving the family farm is a deeply rooted goal—and a legal challenge that becomes more complex with age. As the…
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The Art of Effective Disciplinary Documentation: A Practical Guide for Manufacturing Managers
June 20, 2025
Manufacturing managers regularly hear complaints about employee behavior that are difficult to address: “John is rude in meetings.” “Sarah has a bad attitude.” “Mark…
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Risky Business: What Lawyers Who Fight Insurance Companies Want You to Know About Your Business Insurance Portfolio
June 17, 2025
We are attorneys and don’t sell or broker insurance. Yet, we’re writing to alert business owners of a direct threat posed by a “set…
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More Than Dirt, Seed, and Tractors: Why Today’s Farms Need Real Strategy
June 13, 2025
Farming has always been hard work. But today, large-scale agricultural operations aren’t just production-focused—they’re complex businesses operating in a dynamic, heavily regulated environment. Sophisticated…
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Cyber Liability Insurance: Is It Worth It?
June 3, 2025
Cybersecurity incidents and cybercrime are on the rise in every sector of industry and against businesses and organizations of all sizes. In connection with…
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Navigating Wetlands in Coastal North Carolina Real Estate Development
April 25, 2025
The landscape of coastal real estate development in North Carolina has undergone a seismic shift following major regulatory changes over the last few years.…
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2025 USPTO Fee Changes Disproportionately Impact Hemp Businesses
April 17, 2025
Effective January 18, 2025, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) enacted a new trademark fee structure that affects fast-paced industries more than…
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Understanding Liability Waivers for Equine Activities in North Carolina
April 1, 2025
A person’s participation in equine activities, such as horseback riding, training, and competitions, involves certain inherent risk due to the foreseeability of harm that…
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Key Employment Law Issues Employers Need to Watch in 2025
January 14, 2025
As the United States enters a new administration, changes in workplace regulations and enforcement priorities are on the horizon. For employers, this means staying…
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A Year in Review: Ward and Smith’s Most Read Legal Insights in 2024
December 23, 2024
As we prepare to close out 2024, we’re taking a moment to reflect on the articles that captured the attention of our readers this…
Firm News
Ward and Smith’s Year in Review: Celebrating Excellence, Resilience, and Growth in 2024
December 20, 2024
As 2024 draws to a close, we reflect on a year defined by Hurricane Helene, many new faces, and industry recognition for our attorneys.…
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Part 2 in Heatwaves of Drama: A Case Study in “What Not To Do” for Southeastern HR Professionals
December 17, 2024
Ed. Note: Read Part 1 of Heatwaves of Drama Here Ward and Smith Labor and Employment attorneys presented an interactive case study during their…
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Part 1 in Heatwaves of Drama: A Case Study in “What Not To Do” for Southeastern HR Professionals
December 13, 2024
In the first installment of our two-part series covering Ward and Smith’s 2024 Employment Law Symposium, three Ward and Smith attorneys illuminated a variety…
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Securing Your Legacy: How Marital Estate Rights and Divorce Impact Your Estate Plan
November 25, 2024
Once married, spouses acquire a number of rights in and to the estate of the other spouse. Marital estate rights create the potential for…
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Turning Back Overtime – Texas Judge Strikes Down Salary Threshold Increase
November 19, 2024
A federal judge in Texas struck down the U.S. Department of Labor’s (“DOL”) rule that drastically increased the minimum salary thresholds for bona fide…
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Your Neighbor’s Water Caused Damage to Your Property: Who Bears Legal Responsibility?
November 4, 2024
Over the last several years, the frequency and intensity of rain and other natural disaster events have increasingly impacted both business and individual property…
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Legal Showdown Continues: FTC Appeals Court Ruling Against Non-Compete Ban
October 24, 2024
In late August, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) indicated that it likely would appeal the Texas District Court’s ruling, which blocked the FTC’s Non-Compete…
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Three Cybersecurity Mistakes Small Businesses Make: A Data Privacy Attorney’s Perspective
October 15, 2024
In today’s digital landscape, where data and technology are integral to business, companies of all sizes are prime targets for cyberattacks. As privacy and…
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Agritourism in North Carolina: Balancing Revenue Growth with Legal Compliance
September 24, 2024
Agritourism is now a vital part of the agricultural economy in North Carolina. More and more farmers are turning to agritourism as a way…
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North Carolina Agritourism and Liability Waivers
August 30, 2024
Strengthening the bond between farm and table, agritourism flourishes in North Carolina as both the agribusiness and agriculture sectors buoy the state’s economy with…
Firm News
67 Ward and Smith Attorneys Recognized by Best Lawyers® in America for 2025
August 15, 2024
Ward and Smith is pleased to announce that 67 attorneys have been recognized by Best Lawyers®. Fifty-four attorneys were chosen for inclusion in…
Firm News
Our July Focus: Legal Rights, Responsibilies, and Regulations
July 26, 2024
The July theme of Legal Rights, Responsibilities, and Regulations promotes awareness of legal rights, ethical responsibilities, and the regulations that govern our businesses. Defamation…
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From Emerging Compounds to Forever Chemicals – Navigating Evolving Regulation of and Responsibility for PFAS in the Environment
July 19, 2024
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have become a focal point of regulatory scrutiny nationwide due to their persistent environmental presence and potential health risks.…
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What Landowners Need to Know About Solar Farm Leases in North Carolina
July 2, 2024
In 2007, the North Carolina General Assembly established the Renewable Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standards (“Standards”), which required that all investor-owned utilities in the…
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The Toils of Heirs Property and Agriculture in North Carolina
June 4, 2024
The farmland of North Carolina cradles not only agricultural abundance but also a significant legal challenge: heirs property (also commonly known as “heirs’ property”…
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Having the Talk: How Employers Should Prepare for Difficult Disciplinary Situations
May 14, 2024
Every employee hired is expected to be a team player and integrate into the employer’s culture to cultivate success. However, nearly all employers find…
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Raising the Rate: DOL Expands Overtime Protections to Millions of Workers
April 24, 2024
On April 23, 2024, the U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) announced a final rule that will increase the Fair Labor Standards Act’s (“FLSA”) minimum…
Firm News
Our February Focus: Love, Relationships, and the Law
February 27, 2024
This month’s theme explores the intersection of love, relationships, and the legal frameworks that govern them. Protecting Your Family Business for When Marriages End By…
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Who Will Take Care of My Horse When I Die?
February 9, 2024
“Want a stable relationship? Get a horse.” “Horses lend us the wings we lack.” “There is no better place to heal a broken heart…
Firm News
Ward and Smith Attorneys to Speak at the NC Agritourism 2024 Farm Tour & Conference
February 7, 2024
New Bern is set to host the NC Agritourism 2024 Farm Tour and Conference from February 18 to 20, bringing together industry experts, professionals,…
Firm News
Ward and Smith Attorneys to Speak at ASAP’s 2024 Business of Farming Conference
February 1, 2024
Attorneys Jenny Boyer, Bill Durr, and Avery Locklear will speak at the 2024 Business of Farming Conference hosted by ASAP (Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project) on Saturday, February…
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The Wait Is Over! The USDOL’s 2024 New Rule on Independent Contractor Classification Under the FLSA
January 19, 2024
On January 10, 2024, the U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) issued a final rule to provide guidance to employers in determining whether a worker…
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Top 10 Most Popular Articles of 2023
December 20, 2023
As we approach the New Year, it’s time to reflect on the articles that have most resonated with readers throughout 2023. Ward and Smith…
Firm News
Ward and Smith Attorneys to Speak at the Farming the Future Conference
November 20, 2023
Three Ward and Smith attorneys are set to deliver an insightful presentation at the upcoming Farming the Future Conference hosted by Coastal Agribusiness. The…
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WOTUS Whiplash 4.3: The Revision to the Revised Definition of “Waters of the United States”
November 10, 2023
The third major development of 2023 for defining “Waters of the United States” (“WOTUS”) has arrived. First, in early 2023, the United States…
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Trespassers? How to Protect Your Farm Against Unwelcome Strangers
October 11, 2023
Discovering unauthorized persons on your farm is a growing problem. Such unauthorized entry could include media news teams filming farm operations, environmental activists seeking…
Firm News
Connect and Grow: Ward and Smith Sponsors NC Chamber’s Ag Allies Conference
September 26, 2023
Grow your agribusiness knowledge and cultivate valuable connections at the NC Chamber Ag Allies Conference. This jam-packed day brings farmers, industry leaders, and policymakers together…
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Employers, You Need to Replace Your Mandatory EEOC Poster
June 27, 2023
As of June 27, 2023, the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) is in effect. The PWFA requires covered employers to provide employees with reasonable…
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Trademark Infringement is No Joke!: Jack Daniel’s Properties, Inc. v. VIP Products LLC
June 8, 2023
Today the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of Jack Daniel’s in a dispute over a humorous squeaky dog toy called “Bad Spaniels.” The…
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Uncertainty for the North Carolina Pork Industry: US Supreme Court Upholds California’s Proposition 12
May 18, 2023
In a major decision with widespread impact, the United States Supreme Court upheld California Proposition 12. Proposition 12 is a California state law, adopted…
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WOTUS Whiplash 4.0: The Revised Definition of “Waters of the United States”
April 14, 2023
It’s that song in your head that you can’t stop hearing. On March 20, 2023, the 500-plus page final Revised Definition of “Waters of…
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Does Your Organization Use Non-Compete, Non-Solicitation, and Nondisclosure Provisions? Employer Best Practices for Restrictive Covenants in NC
December 2, 2022
It is no hidden secret that many employers use various restrictive covenants to protect their trade secrets, confidential information, goodwill, and customer relationships. For…
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Time is of the Essence: A Conversation with the EEOC
November 30, 2022
Participants in Ward and Smith’s Employment Law Symposium received updates on topics important to the EEOC, from jurisdictional issues and governmental agency partnerships to…
Firm News
Bill Durr to Speak at the 2022 Southeast Strawberry Expo
November 2, 2022
Attorney Bill Durr will be a speaker at the 2022 Southeast Strawberry Expo. The event runs from November 9-11 at the Crowne Plaza in…
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No One Knows What It Means, But It’s Provocative: The USDOL’s Latest Independent Contractor Test
October 21, 2022
On October 13, 2022, the United States Department of Labor (“DOL”) published its proposed rule (the “Proposed Rule”) for determining whether a worker should…
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Labor Unions and “Protected Concerted Activity:” What Private Employers – Unionized or NOT – Need to Know in 2022
August 19, 2022
Employers, it seems, can’t catch a break these days. They build businesses. They take risks. They face increasing supply costs, supply-chain problems, interest rates,…
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Takeaways from the 2022 Industrial Hemp Summit
March 9, 2022
Ward and Smith’s Hemp and Cannabis Law attorneys recently attended the fifth annual Industrial Hemp Summit. After another year of adjustments and uncertainty caused…
Firm News
Allen Trask to Speak at NC Agritourism 2022 Farm Tour & Conference
February 3, 2022
Agribusiness attorney Allen Trask will speak at the NC Agritourism 2022 Farm Tour & Conference. The two-day annual event, hosted by the North Carolina…
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Getting Rid of the Misnomer: The Risks Behind the Term “1099 Employee”
February 2, 2022
While many employers use the term “1099 employee” as a means to distinguish independent contractors from the company’s W-2 employees, no such term exists…
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“Key Legislative Limits to Nuisance-Based Attacks on the Right to Farm Live on.”
January 5, 2022
The North Carolina Chamber of Commerce, through its “Ag Allies: Landscape-Shifting Legal Developments” webinar on August 18, 2021, featured North Carolina’s Right to Farm…
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Delta-8 THC: More Risk than Reward
October 15, 2021
Hemp product producers and sellers must consider a large number of legal and regulatory compliance risks each day. Are their inputs and plant material…
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Let’s Talk Hemp: Highlights from the 2021 Southern Hemp Expo
September 10, 2021
Several members of our Hemp and Cannabis Law team attended the Southern Hemp Expo in Raleigh, NC last week. This was the third annual…
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How OSHA’s Revised COVID-19 Guidance Affects Agriculture and Food Processing Employers
September 3, 2021
In an effort to reflect recent updates provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”)…
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In the Agribusiness Industry? Don’t Miss These Three Legal Developments to Keep an Eye On
September 1, 2021
The North Carolina Chamber of Commerce is an avid advocate for the economic health and well-being of agribusiness and agriculture in the State through its…
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The End is Near for North Carolina’s Hemp Pilot Program
August 6, 2021
For some time, North Carolina’s hemp farmers and growers have questioned the fate of our hemp cultivation pilot program, authorized and adopted under the…
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Agribusiness Remains a Target for Hackers
June 2, 2021
Agribusiness may not be an industry that the public at large often associates with data breaches and hacking. That perception is likely to change after…
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Ripe for the Picking: Hackers Target Agribusinesses
April 30, 2021
Agribusiness may not be an industry that the public at large often associates with data breaches and hacking, but whatever the perception may be,…
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Common Ground for Hemp in an Uncertain World
March 5, 2021
Several members of our Hemp Law team attended the Industrial Hemp Summit in late February. The annual event is typically held in person at the…
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WOTUS Encore: The Fate of the Navigable Waters Protection Rule and Implications for Groundwater
February 5, 2021
It seems like yesterday, but it was actually last summer when the United States Environmental Protection Agency and Army Corps of Engineers published the…
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Important Update: Hemp Pilot Program Extended
October 1, 2020
For months, farmers and growers of hemp have faced a difficult decision: What to do at the end of October as the North Carolina…
Firm News
Congressman Mike McIntyre Joins Ward and Smith
September 21, 2020
With close to 40 years of legal and business experience and nearly 20 years as a public servant, Ward and Smith is honored to…
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Five Things to Consider When Selling Your CBD Business
August 28, 2020
For many business owners, the intended exit strategy is to sell to a competitor or a larger company, thereby taking advantage of the upside…
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Seeing Through the Fog: Obtaining a Grower’s License in Uncertain Times
June 26, 2020
If all of the recent upheavals in the law and regulations for hemp have left you confused about how to get a hemp grower’s…
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Reopening After COVID-19: What Business Owners Should Know
May 28, 2020
Back to business doesn’t mean back to normal. As COVID-19 lockdown restrictions begin to ease, business owners are grappling with new challenges and are…
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Joint Ventures in Hemp – You Don’t Have to “Go It Alone”
May 15, 2020
Investors and owners of hemp and CBD businesses have grit – a trait that goes hand-in-hand with being an entrepreneur. They are innovative, learn…
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Replacing the Clean Water Rule – Is the Dance Really Over?
May 11, 2020
On April 21, 2020, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) and Army Corps of Engineers (“Corps”) completed step two of the two-step “repeal…
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Federal COVID-19 Relief for Agribusinesses
April 16, 2020
The Coronavirus has been largely indiscriminate in its assault on the business community. Agriculture is no exception. It is true that many “agribusinesses,” especially…
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4 Things Hemp Lawyers Want You to Know Before You Sell CBD Products
December 20, 2019
You’ve probably heard this by now, but hemp and hemp-derived cannabidiol (“CBD”) were previously classified as Schedule I controlled substances under the Controlled Substances…
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Class is in Session: CBD Class Action Lawsuits are Trending Up
December 11, 2019
Products containing hemp-derived cannabidiol (“CBD”) have become incredibly popular in the United States, with new product brands entering the market seemingly every day. Consumer…
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FDA Issues Warnings to 15 Companies for Illegally Selling Products Containing CBD
November 27, 2019
On November 25, 2019, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (“FDA”) published a press release, published a revised Consumer Update, and announced the issuance…
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Hemp’s Storied Past – and (Potentially) Bright Future – in North Carolina
November 20, 2019
Hemp has long held a prominent place in our nation’s agricultural history. Hemp was a staple crop in Colonial America. It was present on…
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Lifetime Transfers of Family Business Interests: An Estate Tax Planning Opportunity in Uncertain Political Times
November 15, 2019
When a family business owner’s goal is to ultimately pass ownership of the business on to the next generation, business succession planning and the…
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USDA Establishes National Domestic Hemp Production Program
November 5, 2019
On October 31, 2019, the United States Department of Agriculture (“USDA”) published its Interim Final Rule establishing the nation’s Domestic Hemp Production Program, and…
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Sewing Strong Seeds, Reaping Strong Benefits: NC Chamber’s 2019 Agribusiness Conference Delivers Big Yields
October 7, 2019
This marks the second year that the North Carolina Chamber of Commerce has hosted a formal business conference dedicated to Agribusiness in North Carolina…
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A Win for Hemp in Court, and What it (Might) Mean for North Carolina
September 17, 2019
The hemp and cannabidiol (“CBD”) industries today face substantial uncertainty, and they lack clear Federal rules, regulations, and guidance within which governments and businesses…
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Federal Trade Commission Joins in Warning Companies About Unsupported CBD Health Claims
September 12, 2019
Much of the regulatory “attention” regarding cannabidiol (“CBD”) has been, understandably, focused on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”). Indeed, the FDA was…
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Hemp Crop Insurance Update: “Whole-Farm” Coverage to Include Hemp
August 29, 2019
The unavailability of crop insurance for hemp has long been a source of frustration and risk for growers in North Carolina, especially in the…
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DEA Recognizes Legality of Hemp
August 27, 2019
On August 26, 2019, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (or “DEA”) issued a public notice that formally – and, finally! – expresses the agency’s…
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New Law More than Doubles Chapter 12 “Family Farmer” Debt Limit
August 26, 2019
On Friday, August 23, 2019, the President signed into law the Family Farmer Relief Act of 2019. The Act increases the debt limit used…
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NC Legislative Update: Hemp Legislation Passes House; Headed Back to Senate
August 23, 2019
On August 21, the North Carolina House of Representatives voted, by a narrow margin, to advance Senate Bill 315 – North Carolina Farm Act…
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Where There’s Smoke, There’s Fire: The Raging Legislative Battle Over Smokable Hemp
July 23, 2019
Hemp and its derivatives – including hemp-derived cannabidiol (“CBD”) – were previously classified as Schedule I controlled substances under the Controlled Substances Act of…
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Industry Update: USDA Aims to Release Hemp Rules by August
June 25, 2019
Hemp was decriminalized with the passage of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, a.k.a. the “2018 Farm Bill.” While the 2018 Farm Bill decriminalized…
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USPS Revises Policies on Shipment of Hemp and Hemp-Related Products
June 14, 2019
Effective June 6, 2019, the United States Postal Service (USPS) revised its rules and regulations to provide new mailing standards for hemp and products…
Firm News
Ward and Smith Launches Hemp + Cannabis Law Practice Group
June 10, 2019
The exponential rise of hemp in North Carolina is only paralleled by the growing legal complexities and challenges that come with efforts to regulate…
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Hemp News: Updates on Interstate Travel, Interstate Commerce, and Crop Insurance
June 6, 2019
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) recently changed its policy on hemp-derived products. Products and medications that contain lawfully produced hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD) are now…
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Beer, Hemp, and CBD in North Carolina
May 13, 2019
The cannabidiol (“CBD”) industry is exploding today. Hemp and hemp-derived CBD were classified as Schedule I controlled substances under the Controlled Substances Act of…
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2018 Farm Bill and Federal Trademark Protection for Hemp
May 10, 2019
This article continues our earlier discussion about brand protection for hemp-derived cannabidiol (“CBD”). The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) generally refuses to register…
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Compliance Inspections for CBD Retail Operations in NC
May 8, 2019
In February, the North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services (the “Department”) disclosed its intent to issue CBD Advisory Letters to hemp and…
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USDA Accepting Plant Variety Protection Applications for Hemp
April 30, 2019
In April 2019, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (“USDA”) announced that it will accept plant variety protection applications from breeders of seed-propagated hemp. This…
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Trademarks and Hemp-Derived Cannabidiol: Brand Protection for CBD Products
March 22, 2019
Cannabidiol (commonly referred to as “CBD”) has been in the news for several years now, due to its touted health and wellness benefits. This…
Firm News
Media Mention: North Carolina’s New Cash Crop?
March 18, 2019
Growing hemp could be North Carolina’s latest agriculture craze. Demand for hemp and hemp-derived products, such as CBD, is fueling a boom. While hemp is…
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Pray for a Good Harvest, but Keep at Your Plow – And Know Enough Employment Law to Stay Out of the Ditch
March 15, 2019
Employers in agribusiness face the same risks as those in any other business, but perhaps more than most if faced with frequent employee-turnover and…
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Are the Bankruptcy Courts Available for the Cannabis Industry?
March 8, 2019
Since 2012, ten states and the District of Columbia have legalized marijuana for adult recreational use. Another 23 states have legalized some form of…
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Trends from the Industrial Hemp Summit
February 27, 2019
This week, we attended the Industrial Hemp Summit in Danville, VA. The quality of the event, the information shared, and the people in attendance…
Firm News
Bill Durr, Zac Lamb, and Devon Williams to Speak at the 2019 “Business of Farming Conference”
February 18, 2019
Farming is a lifestyle, but it’s also a business. And this Saturday, February 23 farmers can learn to grow their business at the 2019…
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NC CBD Companies Take Notice: NC Dept. of Agriculture Issues CBD Advisory
February 12, 2019
The Agriculture Act of 2018 legalized hemp and hemp-derived cannabidiol, or “CBD,” on the Federal level by removing both substances from the definition of…
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Hey, Careful, Man, There’s a Beverage Here! TTB, CBD, and the Production of Beer
February 1, 2019
So you brew beer? Cool. So you want to brew a beer with cannabidiol? Even cooler. Don’t know what cannabidiol is? That’s ok. You…
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There’s a New Sheriff in Town: The Food and Drug Administration’s Move to Regulate CBD
January 10, 2019
Hemp has wide commercial application and appeal with a viable market for nearly every part of the plant, from the seeds, to the roots,…
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The End of Hemp Prohibition
December 20, 2018
On Thursday, December 20, President Donald J. Trump signed into law the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (“Farm Bill”). “Farm bills” are adopted by…
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Industrial Hemp News Update: DEA Reschedules CBD Therapy
October 2, 2018
As we have written before, the legal world of cannabis-derived products is dynamic and uncertain. The current uncertain environment was born in the wake…
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Making and Keeping Your Mark: Hemp Brand Protection in a Brave New World
August 20, 2018
For North Carolinians, hemp is here. The federal legalization of hemp grown under state-sanctioned research programs in the Agricultural Act of 2014, combined with…
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NCGA 2018 Wrap Up: Abbreviated Short Session Produces Fewer Bills but More Proposed Constitutional Amendments
July 20, 2018
The 2018 Short Session of the North Carolina General Assembly adjourned in late June and can boast something that many Short Sessions cannot: that…
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Hemp News Highlights
June 29, 2018
We’ve previously published articles about industrial hemp and the excitement and curiosity it continues to garner as a cash crop in North Carolina. That…
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Industrial Hemp: Go for the Boom, Avoid a Bust!
June 1, 2018
While relatively new to North Carolina’s farm economy, industrial hemp is gaining traction as a promising cash crop. Interest and acceptance are growing among…
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Hemp Horizon: Time for Growth?
February 23, 2018
The Legal Commercialization of Industrial Hemp in North Carolina North Carolina is an agricultural power house. The state’s farmers contribute over $80 billion to…
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NC Oyster and Marine Aquaculture Makes a Splash
October 31, 2017
North Carolina is prioritizing the marine fisheries and oyster industries to provide growth opportunities for non-urban coastal communities. Activities in the North Carolina House…
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Senate Bill 155: The Brunch Bill – Expanded Version
June 30, 2017
UPDATE: North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper officially signed the bill into law on Friday, June 30, hours after this article was published. A few…
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Succession Planning—Bet the Farm on It
May 12, 2017
Despite recent trends toward consolidation in the agricultural industry, farming generally remains a family affair. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, 98%…
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The North Carolina Landowner Protection Act: Encouraging Access for Hunters, Trappers, and Other Outdoor Enthusiasts
September 21, 2016
If you are a private landowner in North Carolina, you may not be aware that you owe a certain duty of care not only…
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Municipalities, Farmers, and Manufacturers Targeted by EPA’s New Enforcement Initiatives
June 2, 2016
Municipalities and those involved in animal feeding and food manufacturing operations take heed: heightened EPA scrutiny is coming your way! Every three years, the…
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Fracking—One Step Closer To Reality In North Carolina
January 5, 2015
The North Carolina Rules Review Commission (“RRC”) recently approved 107 new rules proposed by the state’s Mining and Energy Commission, putting North Carolina one…
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Fracking Movement in North Carolina: What Landowners Need to Know about the Energy Modernization Act
June 11, 2014
On June 4, 2014, Governor Pat McCrory signed into law a bill that will allow permits to be issued in North Carolina for gas…
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North Carolina Agribusiness Suffers as a Result of the Flu
April 1, 2010
In April 2009, an influenza virus infection identified as “novel 2009 H1N1” or, simply, the “H1N1 virus,” was detected in humans in North America. …
