Western conference session will tackle how SCOTUS’ Chevron decision impacts ag
“Agriculture is arguably the most heavily regulated industry in the country. Thus,
any change in the scope of agency authority has a major impact on the ag industry,
with unique implications for the ag industry in Western states.”
—Harrison Pittman
By Drew Viguet
National Agricultural Law Center
U of A System Division of Agriculture
June 4, 2025
Fast facts:
- Impact of SCOTUS Chevron decision on ag discussed at annual Western
- Environmental law experts will present
- Registration is online, livestream available
(415 words)
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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Federal agencies have a significant impact on agriculture in the Western United States, and the effects of a landmark Supreme Court decision on the scope of agency authority will be highlighted at the Western Water, Ag, and Environmental Law Conference.
Brigit Rollins, staff attorney at the National Agricultural Law Center, or NALC, and Lauren J. Caster, director at Fennemore, will discuss the implications of last year’s decision in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo during the third annual Western conference. The Supreme Court’s decision in the case overturned the “Chevron doctrine,” which said that courts should generally defer to a federal agency’s own interpretation of its rules when a litigant challenges that agency’s interpretation of its own rule.
“Under Chevron, courts typically deferred to federal agencies’ interpretations of statutes when parties challenged that agency’s action in court,” said Rollins. “Now, courts are no longer required to defer to agency interpretations. Instead, judges will interpret statutes and agencies will not necessarily have the final say in how those statutes are interpreted.”
The session, “Ag, Food, and Federal and State Agency Deference in a Post-Chevron World,” will explore the short and long-term implications of the Supreme Court’s decision.
“Producers and agricultural stakeholders across the West will need to understand how Loper Bright affects judicial scrutiny of the agencies they interact with and the decisions those agencies make,” said Caster. “The fog is beginning to clear.”
The conference will be held June 19-20 in Reno, Nevada. It is hosted by the NALC as well as the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture Foundation, or NASDA Foundation.
“Agriculture is arguably the most heavily regulated industry in the country,” said NALC Director Harrison Pittman. “Thus, any change in the scope of agency authority has a major impact on the ag industry, with unique implications for the ag industry in Western states.”
Registration for the Western conference, which includes a livestream option, is available online at nationalaglawcenter.org/western2025.
“Brigit and Larry have phenomenal backgrounds in agricultural, environmental, and natural resources law that uniquely positions them to tackle this topic,” Pittman said. “They will bring insight to attendees about what it all means thus far, as well as looking at the years ahead.”
The Western conference offers 12 hours of continuing legal education credit, including two hours of ethics. Additionally, continuing education credit from the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers is available.
For further information about the Supreme Court’s Chevron decision, read Rollins’ article at nationalaglawcenter.org/supreme-court-overturns-long-standing-chevron-doctrine.
For information about the NALC, visit nationalaglawcenter.org. The NALC is also on X, Facebook and LinkedIn. Subscribe online to receive NALC Communications, including webinar announcements, the NALC’s Quarterly
Newsletter, and The Feed.
About the National Agricultural Law Center
Created by Congress in 1987, the National Agricultural Law Center serves as the nation’s leading source of agricultural and food law research and information. The NALC works with producers, agribusinesses, state and federal policymakers, lenders, Congressional staffers, attorneys, land grant universities, students, and many others to provide objective, nonpartisan agricultural and food law research and information to the nation’s agricultural community.
The NALC is a unit of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and works in close partnership with the USDA Agricultural Research Service, National Agricultural Library.
About the NASDA Foundation
The NASDA Foundation is the only educational and research organization that directly serves the nation’s state departments of agriculture. It is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The mission of the NASDA Foundation is to advance agriculture to shape a changing world.
For more information on the NASDA Foundation, visit nasda.org/nasda-foundation. The NASDA Foundation is also on X, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on three campuses.
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs to all eligible persons without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.
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Media contact:
Drew Viguet
Communications & Special Projects Coordinator
National Agricultural Law Center
dviguet@uark.edu