(DOVER, DELAWARE) January 16, 2020 – The study of regulations impacting farm businesses by the Delaware Soybean Board (DSB) has revealed that farmers, depending on their operation, can be required to comply with more than 100 separate regulations from three dozen agencies to operate an agricultural business in the First State.
“Farmers are constantly seeking ways to improve their operation and want to comply with all the regulations, however, it is difficult to stay informed of each and every one when so many agencies are involved,” stated Cory Atkins, chairman of the board. “The Soybean Board thought it valuable to farmers to have a compilation of the various regulations that impact a farming operation today along with resources to help guide them through those policies.”
A compilation of federal, state and county regulations which directly or indirectly relate to a farm operation, the report lists regulations by subject and agency and includes contact information for further details. In addition, resources to help operate a farm are included in the summary. Multiple agencies have jurisdiction over various parts of a farm operation, including the departments of Agriculture, Finance, Environmental Protection Agency, Transportation, Motor Vehicles, Labor, Land Use Planning & Zoning, Natural Resources & Environmental Control, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Army Corps of Engineers, and Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
The review was originally conducted in 2017 and has been peer reviewed and updated annually since. The report is posted on the DSB website [DE Farm Regulations PDF updated 1/16/20].
Delaware farmers plant about 180,000 acres of soybeans each year, and the crop generates approximately $60 million in value to the state. Delaware’s agricultural industry contributes about $8 billion per year to the Delaware economy.
The Delaware Soybean Board consists of nine farmer-directors and the Secretary of Agriculture. Funded through a one-half of one percent assessment on the net market value of soybeans at their first point of sale, the checkoff works with partners in the value chain to identify and capture opportunities that increase farmer profit potential. One-half of the soybean checkoff assessments collected by the state boards are forwarded to the United Soybean Board.