3rd Annual Western Water, Ag and Environmental Law Conference - National Agricultural Law Center

3rd Annual Western Water, Ag and Environmental Law Conference

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The agricultural industry in the western United States is uniquely impacted by changes and developments in state, federal, and international laws and policies. The Third Annual Western Water, Ag, & Environmental Law Conference provides relevant and timely legal research and information to attorneys, farm manager and rural appraisers, consultants, lenders, accountants, tax consultants, students, and other agricultural professionals involved in the western ag and food industries in the Western U.S.  The conference is an excellent networking opportunity, as well as a premiere legal education opportunity tailored to the ag industry.

This conference will be held in person in Reno, Nevada, but will also be livestreamed online for attendees who are unable to attend in person. The main conference will feature 12 hours of continuing education, including two hours of Legal Ethics. More information on continuing education credit is available below.

Date & Time:

  • Thursday, June 19, 2025
  • Friday, June 20, 2025

Location:

Cost:

  • Attendees seeking continuing education credit (CLE/CE): $500
  • Government employees: $400
  • Other attendees, not seeking professional credit: $300
  • Undergraduate or Law Students: $75
Register Here

Conference Agenda

  • Fourth Amendment and Agriculture: Warrantless Access to Ag & Private Rural Lands” (Robert Frommer and Joshua Windham, Institute for Justice)
  • Perspectives from State Departments of Agriculture (Dr. J.J. Goicoechea, Director, Nevada Department of Agriculture; Christy Clark, Director, Montana Department of Agriculture and President, Western Association of State Departments of Agriculture; Jeff Witte, Director/Secretary, New Mexico, Department of Agriculture; moderated by Wes Ward, Secretary, Arkansas Department of Agriculture and President, National Association of State Departments of Agriculture)
  • Ag, Food, & Federal and State Agency Deference in a Post-Chevron World (Caroline Lobdell, General Counsel & Chief Compliance Officer, Clean Water Services)
  • Update from the Potomac: Federal Legislative & Regulatory Issues (speakers TBA)
  • Federal-Private Split Estate: Considerations for Living and Operating on Stock-Raising Homestead Act Lands (Katy DeVries Riker, Associate, Holland & Hart)
  • Water Banking and Leasing in the West: Practical Pointers and Pitfall (Alyssa A. Moir, Partner, K&L Gates; Ernest Conant, Counsel, Downey Brand; and Emily E. Lewis, Director, Clyde Snow & Sessions)
  • And other sessions finalized in near future!

Sponsorships:

  • Contact NALC Director Harrison Pittman for more information at hmpittm@uark.edu.

Lodging:

  • Block room rates will be available for this conference. Check back on this page soon for more information.

Continuing Education:

  • Legal – This program will be submitted for CLE in Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon and Utah.
  • American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers: This program will be submitted for CE.

Attendees routinely apply for continuing education credit in other states or for other professions. For more information and assistance, email Staff Attorney Brigit Rollins.

Conference Materials:

  • Coming soon

Join us as we continue a tradition of fun, food and ag law!