Despite contract provisions to the contrary, there has been a move to declare that producers operating under contractual relationships are "employees" of companies they contract with, rather than independent contractors. If this is upheld in the courts and enforced against the parties, implications could be felt industry wide. These implications include:

• Tax liability
• Environmental liability
• Financial/Credit implications
• Management issues across companies and farms
• Insurance/Tort liability
• Impact on rural communities
• Entitlement to farm program payment benefits
• Entitlement to employment related benefits: e.g., workers compensation, unemployment compensation, retirement, coverage under FLSA requirements.

Should courts decide the outcomes of these issues without extensive formal input from scientists, industry, producers, economists, sociologists, local communities and other stakeholders? Although there has been discussion within various stakeholder communities concerning implications of these court-based policies, limited research and education concerning the potential for additional structural change within the agricultural and rural communities caused by such policy has been completed. Social and economic effects on the food supply chain are substantial. A clear analysis of the pathways necessary for and resulting from the implementation of the policies is paramount.

On September 4 & 5, a Blue-Ribbon Panel will lead a discussion focusing on the continuing transformation of contractual relationships in the agricultural and food sector. These panelists will address impacts on businesses and society from the perspectives of the stakeholders, including, but not limited to: the industry community; the producer community; the financial community; the labor community; and the rural community as a whole.

Sponsored by:
University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture
with suport from:

• Farm Foundation
• The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture
• American Farm Bureau Federation
• Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation