Agricultural Law Center Publications

The Agricultural Law Center provides resources on topics such as agricultural law, climate change, food policy, and more.

Recent Publications

Hamilton High Hopes Meet Hard Truths Iowa Water 
Opening Keynote Address by Neil Hamilton at “Challenges to Providing Safe Drinking Water in the Midwest: A Symposium,” held at Drake University (Sept. 21, 2017)

Recognizing Challenges and Opportunities in the Quest to End Hunger
Jennifer Zwagerman, 4 Texas A & M Law Review 315 (2017).

Keeping the Farm and Farmer in Food Policy and Law
Neil Hamilton, 11 Journal of Food Law & Policy 9 (2015)

On Climate Change, We Must Put the Apple Down
Matt Russell, Eco Catholic of the National Catholic Reporter (Aug. 5, 2015)

Faith Calls Us to Act on Climate Change
The Rev. Valerie Miller Coleman and Matt Russell, The Des Moines Register (June 17, 2015)

The 2014 Farm Bill: Lessons in Patience, Politics, and Persuasion
Neil Hamilton, 19 Drake Journal of Agricultural Law 1 (2014)

Climate Change an Opportunity for Iowa Farmers
Matt Russell, The Des Moines Register (Nov. 4, 2014)

Climate Change is Real
Matt Russell, The Cedar Rapids Gazette (March 28, 2014)

Results of the Leopold Center Supported Research on Climate Extremes and Farm Leases
The Sustainable Agricultural Land Tenure Initiative (Jan. 30, 2015)

Public Statement by Matt Russell on the Clean Power Plan Proposed Rule
EPA Public Hearings, Pittsburgh, Pa. (July 31, 2014)

Video: "Agriculture and Climate Change in Iowa"
National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) (May 1, 2014)

How You Gonna Keep Em Down on the Farm after Baur v. Baur Farms, Inc.?
Neil Hamilton, Matthew G. Doré, Allan W. Vestal, and David S. Walker, 18 Drake Journal of Agricultural Law 431 (2013)

Statement by Matt Russell on the Impact of Climate Change
House of Representative’s Safe Climate Caucus Forum, Washington, D.C. (Sept. 17, 2013)

Harvesting the Law: Personal Reflections on Thirty Years of Change
Neil Hamilton, 46 Creighton Law Review 562 (2013)

Farming an Uncertain Climate Future: What COP 15 Means for Agriculture
Neil Hamilton, 2011 University of Illinois Law Review 341

Americas New Agrarians: Policy Opportunities and Legal Innovations
Neil Hamilton, 22 Fordham Environmental Law Review 523 (2011)

Farms, Food, and the Future: Legal Issues of the "New Agriculture"
Neil Hamilton, 26 Journal of Environmental Law & Litigation 1 (2011)

Moving Toward Food Democracy: Better Food, New Farmers, and the Myth of Feeding
Neil Hamilton, 16 Drake Journal of Agricultural Law 118 (2011)

Additional Resources

Farm to Food Tax Donation Credit
The Farm to Food Tax Donation Credit is a new law in Iowa that allows taxpayers to receive a 15 percent tax credit, up to $5,000. Learn more about the tax credit:

• Farm to Food Donation Tax Credit Case Studies – Case study examples that highlight different situations where a taxpayer may or may not be eligible for the tax credit and, if eligible, how the credit will impact their taxes.
• Farm to Food Donation Tax Credit Guide – In-depth information on the tax credit for both taxpayers and emergency feeding organizations.
• Farm to Food Donation Tax Credit Income Chart – A donation example that shows the comparison between a tax credit versus a charitable contribution deduction for all state income tax ranges.

Government Resources Guide for Farmer Veterans
A guide to programs that directly support new farmers, specifically veterans whose goal is to start or improve a commercial agricultural business.

Manure Agreement Decision Making Tool
A tool to assist Iowa's farmers and land owners with the process of creating manure agreements between hog producers and landowners.