Agricultural Law

We provide assistance with all aspects of agricultural law including environmental law (state and federal environmental regulation and nuisance suits), business and commercial law, contracts, administrative law, litigation and appeals, real estate (including Iowa's corporate farming law and farm leases), estate planning and zoning and land use. Agricultural cooperatives are a fundamental component of agribusiness and farming in Iowa and our firm has for many years provided legal counsel in all facets of cooperative law.

Our agricultural law experience is more than legal experience. Our attorneys working in agricultural law have extensive farming and agriculture related experience.

• Prior to graduating from Drake University Law School with an emphasis in agricultural law, Eldon McAfee farmed (dairy, hogs, cattle, sheep and crops) for ten years near Solon, Iowa, and then near North English, Iowa. Eldon grew up on a farm near Atlantic, Iowa, and graduated from Iowa State University in Farm Operations in 1977.
• Julie Vyskocil grew up on a farm (dairy, cattle and crops) in Michigan and graduated from Michigan State University in Agriculture and Natural Resources Communications in 2004. Julie worked for the Michigan Cattlemen's Association and the Michigan Beef Industry Commission before attending law school. Julie graduated from Drake University Law School with a certificate in Agriculture and Food Law. Upon graduation from law school, Julie worked for the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association before joining our firm.
• Erin Herbold-Swalwell grew up on a family farm (hogs, cattle, and crops) near Mingo, Iowa. Erin graduated from Iowa State University in 2003 and the University of Iowa College of Law in 2006. Upon graduation from law school, Erin gained experience in Agricultural Law working with farm families and agribusiness professionals as Staff Attorney at the Iowa State University Center for Agricultural Law and Taxation (CALT). At the Center, Erin conducted educational seminars, researched, and authored publications on agricultural legal issues.
• We also utilize the Drake University Law School agricultural law program by regularly employing students who have agricultural backgrounds and who are active in the agricultural law program at Drake.

For more than thirty years the foundation of the firm's agricultural law practice has been our work in the legislature and with state government agencies. This puts us at the forefront of agricultural policy and gives us first-hand knowledge of the law in representing agricultural clients.

Our legal experience coupled with our hands-on knowledge of agriculture gives us a unique perspective in advising farmers and agricultural businesses in the wide ranging area of agricultural law.