Agricultural Law

Providing Agricultural Law Counsel

Brick Gentry's agricultural law attorneys provide assistance with all aspects of agricultural law.

• Iowa DNR and federal EPA rules for hog, cattle, poultry and turkey farms. Our ag law group has been extensively involved with DNR rules since the first major legislation was enacted in 1995, and provides counsel on compliance with these rules to the Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers, Iowa Pork Producers Association, Iowa Cattlemen’s Association, Iowa Poultry Association, the Iowa Turkey Federation, as well as individual producers.
• Nuisance lawsuits. Our attorneys have regularly defended livestock producers in nuisance lawsuits since 1994. Their counsel begins with advising producers on the steps to hopefully avoid a lawsuit and, if necessary, continues through mediation and litigation.
• Farm estate and business planning, including wills, trusts for farm corporations, LLCs and partnerships. Our ag law attorneys specialize in farm estate and business planning providing expertise in drafting will and trust documents, formation of farm corporations, LLCs or partnerships, and gifting and asset protection strategies to transition the family farm to the next generation. We provide farm families with a variety of estate planning options that will accomplish the clients farm transition goals while reducing or eliminating tax liability. We represent trustees, executors, administrators and beneficiaries throughout the estate and trust administration process to ensure decedent’s wishes are honored in accordance with their estate plan, including representation in litigation within trusts and estates.
• Ag business and commercial law, including cooperatives, and landlord and contract feeding liens.
• Contracts, including hog and cattle feeding contracts and grain contracts.
• USDA federal farm program, packer and stockyards compliance, and enforcement actions.
• Real estate, including farm leases, Iowa’s corporate farming law, Iowa’s fence and boundary law, farm drainage, and wind energy easements.
• Cases of contaminated and improperly mixed feed, including Rumensin toxicity in cattle and sheep.

The foundation of Brick Gentry’s agricultural law group’s practice is our work with government agencies and the Iowa legislature on behalf of the Iowa Pork Producers Association, Iowa Cattlemen’s, Association and the Iowa Poultry Association. This allows us to be at the forefront of agricultural policy and gives us first-hand knowledge of agricultural law in representing agricultural clients.

Our agricultural law group’s ag law experience is more than legal experience. Eldon, Julie and Brock were raised on grain and livestock farms and continue to be extensively involved in farming. Eldon was full-time dairy and hog farmer before going to law school. This practical experience gives us a unique understanding and advantage in providing legal counsel to our agricultural clients.

Our agricultural law group’s legal experience and its hands-on knowledge of agriculture, with the support of the firm’s attorneys in all other areas of law, gives us a rare perspective and ability to advise farmers and agricultural businesses in the wide-ranging area of agricultural law.