Agricultural operations depend on consistency. When something goes wrong, the impact shows up quickly in your bottom line. Many of these problems trace back to preventable issues like defective products or failures by third parties—and you may have a legal claim worth pursuing.
Bird, Stevens & Borgen, P.C., has worked with agricultural producers for more than 30 years across the nation. Our law firm continues to handle a steady number of agricultural claims at any given time. When you work with us, you’ll get agriculture lawyers with a deep understanding of how these issues can affect your day-to-day operations and long-term planning.
If you’re dealing with an agricultural claim, contact Bird, Stevens & Borgen, P.C., to discuss your legal options.
Agricultural claims cover a wide range of problems that interfere with how your operation runs or how your products perform. Some issues show up right away, while others build over time through declining production, animal health concerns, or repeated equipment failures. In many cases, the underlying cause is a third party that didn’t meet a legal or contractual obligation.
Most agricultural claims fall into a few core legal categories. It helps to understand how the law generally approaches these disputes:
Agricultural claims often overlap, too. A single issue, like contaminated feed or faulty equipment, can involve multiple legal theories and multiple responsible parties. An experienced agricultural lawyer from our law firm can help you understand your options and what to do next.
Agricultural claims can come in many forms, but they usually share one thing in common: something outside your control disrupted your operation and caused a measurable loss. Our lawyers handle a range of agricultural claims across the nation. Our law firm will work with you to identify what went wrong and who may be responsible, then build a persuasive, evidence-based claim. Some of the most common types of claims we handle include:
An unwanted electrical current affects livestock, usually through the ground or farm infrastructure. Dairy cows are especially sensitive, and even low levels of current can interfere with normal behavior and production. You may notice:
Stray voltage claims often involve utility companies or negligent contractors. Utilities must provide safe and adequate service. When they fall short, you may have a claim based on negligence or failure to maintain safe systems. We can help you pursue damages for:
In agricultural settings, even a single veterinary mistake can affect a large portion of your herd. Common issues include:
These cases depend on showing exactly how the veterinarian’s actions caused your losses. Our attorneys can help by:
Chemical drift occurs when herbicides or pesticides move beyond their intended target, often due to wind or application errors. The potentially responsible parties include:
Our lawyers can help by evaluating the responsible party’s compliance with state regulations and assessing the extent of crop and soil damage. Then, we’ll help you pursue damages for:
Farm equipment needs to work reliably. Product liability claims can help you recover compensation for defective equipment or failure to properly warn operators about the risks. Minnesota law allows claims against manufacturers and others in the supply chain, including distributors and sellers. Our attorneys help by:
Feed-related issues can affect your operation quickly and at scale. Problems generally fall into two categories: improper formulation and contamination. Improperly formulated rations can lead to nutritional deficiencies and reduced production over time.
These issues may involve nutritionists or consultants who designed the ration, or suppliers who provided incorrect or substandard components.
Contaminated feed presents more immediate risks and can cause severe harm. Contamination may occur during:
Minnesota regulates commercial feed. Violations can support strict liability or regulatory noncompliance claims. These cases often involve multiple parties, depending on where the contamination occurred.
Insurance disputes can limit your ability to recover after a loss. Even when you have coverage, insurers may deny or reduce claims in ways that don’t reflect the full extent of your losses. Common issues include:
When an insurer doesn’t handle a claim properly, you may have additional legal options. Our attorneys will review your policy and claim to help:
Proving an agricultural claim requires showing what changed in your operation and why. That usually means pulling together records that tell the story over time. Our law firm will work to gather and organize key documentation, including things like:
Our attorneys also bring in experts to take a closer look when necessary. Depending on the claim, that may include professionals like engineers or veterinarians. These seasoned professionals can identify the cause of the problem and explain how it affected your operation. Qualified experts may provide opinions when their knowledge helps establish key facts, and their input often makes a big difference in building a strong claim.
Finally, our lawyers will help you take steps early to document conditions, preserve evidence, and avoid gaps that could weaken your claim later. We know from experience that a thorough, well-supported case puts you in a better position to recover what you’ve lost. When you choose Bird, Stevens & Borgen, P.C., our law firm will focus on building and pursuing the claim so you can focus on your agricultural enterprise.
If something isn’t adding up in your operation, Bird, Stevens & Borgen, P.C., can help you evaluate the situation and determine your next steps. Contact us to get started.
To schedule a free initial consultation with a lawyer from our firm, contact us online now. You may also call our offices in Southern Minnesota or the Twin Cities. To reach our location in Rochester, call 507-282-1503. To reach us in Bloomington, call 612-421-0526. We are always happy to answer questions about important legal matters.
