Agribusiness

Bradley Prowant, Associate in the Litigation group at the firm’s Minneapolis and Boise offices, outlines how the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) protects fruit and vegetable growers from nonpayment and unfair conduct. Enacted to level the playing field between growers and buyers, PACA offers powerful remedies, including preferred creditor status in bankruptcy, the ability to secure quick relief through the USDA, and a statutory trust that allows growers to recover proceeds from produce sales before other creditors are paid. These protections apply to fresh and frozen produce alike and are especially valuable for smaller growers dealing with larger buyers, helping ensure they receive prompt payment without the burden of drawn-out litigation.

Tom Woods, Partner in the Litigation and Trial Practice Group at Stoel Rives, discusses a growing trend in commercial litigation involving identity theft through phishing scams. These schemes can target industries like construction and lumber, intercepting invoice communications and causing businesses to unknowingly send payments to fraudulent accounts. As a result, companies may be forced to pay twice—once to the scammer and once to the actual vendor. Woods highlights how these incidents can strain business relationships and often leave no clear party at fault, making them particularly challenging for courts to resolve.

Nicole Hancock, Partner in the Litigation group at Stoel Rives’ Boise office, shares how practicing in Idaho’s close-knit legal market provided a foundation for building a national litigation practice. Leveraging the firm’s platform, she has represented Idaho-based clients across the country, working alongside local counsel to combine deep knowledge of client industries with jurisdiction-specific expertise. Her work includes leading a cross-office team in a record-setting, multi-month USDA modernization hearing on behalf of the National Milk Federation, resulting in significant Federal Milk Marketing Order changes.

Nicole Hancock, Partner in Stoel Rives’ Boise office, shares her career journey from a Ninth Circuit clerkship to in-house counsel at global agribusiness leader Syngenta, and back to private practice serving agribusiness clients. Drawing on her industry experience, Hancock has spent more than a decade shaping the Women in Agribusiness Summit as a member of its inaugural advisory board.

Mike Mills, Partner in the Environmental & Natural Resources Practice Group, discusses the growing tension between California’s aggressive environmental policies and the ongoing need for reliable oil and gas infrastructure. As regulatory pressures mount, some policymakers are beginning to reconsider the pace and scope of restrictions amid concerns over affordability and energy stability.

Duff Bryant explores how artificial intelligence is poised to reshape agribusiness and the lumber industry. In agribusiness, Bryant notes that while the physical nature of the work may seem resistant to change, AI will significantly streamline crop management, logistics, and overall production efficiency. Despite a historically slow adoption of AgTech, he sees AI strengthening the business case for modernizing agricultural operations.

Kirk Maag breaks down the shifting landscape of U.S. farmland and timberland investment. As foreign ownership—particularly by Chinese entities—draws scrutiny, lawmakers at both federal and state levels are proposing new reporting and ownership restrictions. These developments could reshape who can buy land and under what conditions, raising key due diligence and compliance considerations for investors and landowners alike.