At its September 9, 2021 Agricultural Lending Conference, Gislason & Hunter LLP provided a case law and legislative update regarding new legal developments pertinent to the lending industry. One of the cases presented was Lighthouse Management, Inc. v. Oberg Family Farms et al., which was decided by the Minnesota Court of Appeals less than two...

Over the last two years, the world has grappled with the COVID-19 pandemic. In an effort to address the economic crisis following the arrival of COVID-19, the United States took a number of significant actions, including, among other things, infusing cash into the national economy, generally, and the agricultural industry, in particular. The introduction of...

Minnesota has long authorized police departments and similar agencies to seize property associated with certain crimes and, under proceedings known as “civil forfeiture,” assume ownership of the property. In the past, criminal property seizures have caused problems for secured creditors who have a properly perfected security interest in vehicles or other equipment that is seized...

Now that Spring has sprung, contractors and subcontractors, suppliers, and other construction professionals will likely be seeing a seasonal upswing in demand for private real estate improvements and projects. Along with more work, however, comes the need to secure payment for your hard-spent labor, services, materials, or equipment provided in the course of your projects....

Financing loans are commonly secured by automobiles, boats, and recreational vehicles which serve as an effective source of security in the event of a default. So long as the vehicle is able to be located and in good condition, it can typically be easily repossessed and sold in order to pay off the loan, even...

Here’s a common story: Farmer A gets a good deal on a neighboring farm that includes 16 acres of marginal hay ground in a low, wet area. Farmer A has no use for hay and no haying equipment. It’s been a dry spring with forecasts of drought and high hay prices. Neighbor B is a...

Agricultural producers are no strangers to risk. They grow, buy, and sell commodities in a global economy subject to the unpredictability of floods, droughts, and trades disputes, the whims of governments and politicians, and the devastations caused by pandemics and disease. Many if not most producers develop and employ hedging strategies in an attempt to...