The legal needs of farmers: An analysis of the family farm legal needs survey

摘要: In the agricultural community, crop production research and economic analysis of the" family farm" receive extensive government support and scholarly attention. A missing element, especially in the increasingly complex environment of post-modern agriculture, is a comprehensive analysis of the legal issues facing today's farm operators. To better understand farmers' need for legal services and targeted educational programming, the authors, with the support of several cooperating organizations,'conducted a family farm legal needs survey of Illinois farmers in 2007. The results indicate that farmers' primary legal concerns relate to federal support programs, taxation issues, and environmental compliance. 2 Despite the important and complex nature of these legal issues, the survey revealed that few farmers sought out an attorney's services. For those who did engage an attorney, satisfaction rates varied, indicating a …