Farming is complicated. U.S. law even more so. Carlye Patterson knows the ins and outs of both.
An associate at global law firm Faegre Drinker, Patterson shares her insights into the importance ag tech plays in gathering important information for agribusiness cases. She also discusses her experience as a farm owner and how ag tech helps her to streamline finances and data to make strategic decisions for profitability.
WiAT: Can you tell us a little bit about your ag background and how agriculture still plays an important part in your current life?
Carlye Patterson (CP): I grew up in a farm family in northwest Iowa and have operated corn and soybean farms since 2015, starting out by leasing ground and eventually purchasing my first farm in 2021.
I am grateful to have had a family that provided opportunities and encouraged me to gain hands-on experience in the field and to be responsible for data organization and financial decision-making for both my operation and our family farm.
As I pursued my accounting and law degrees, I worked on the farm over weekends and summers. I engaged in all stages of farming, including planting, pesticide and fertilizer preparation and application, irrigation, and harvest.
I also applied the concepts I was learning in my accounting and business law courses to the farm, including retaining and analyzing application records, calculating crop input billings, utilizing financial statements for business strategy and obtaining financing, and tax planning and preparation.
Although I am now an attorney, I still own and operate my farm and remain deeply involved in the family farm. By staying connected to the agricultural world, including changes in the market, climate, and ag tech, I am able to better understand my agribusiness and product liability and mass tort law practice.
WiAT: Can you tell me a little bit about your work in product liability and mass torts? In your past, have you come across any cases involving ag tech? Or ag products?
CP: In my legal practice, I counsel clients in product liability and mass tort matters involving disputes arising out of the use of ag products, including seed, pesticides, and fertilizer.
In these cases, ag tech plays an important role in gathering key evidence and developing the story. For example, this may involve pulling application records and GPS data from field monitors and determining when, what, how much, and where ag products were used.
I also have experience with National Grain Feed Association (NGFA) arbitration, where disputes arise from the sale and delivery of various kinds of grain.
Alongside the Faegre Drinker agribusiness team, I have had opportunities to present continuing legal education (CLE) courses for clients on relevant agricultural topics such as compliance with the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) regulations.
WiAT: How do you use your farming background in a non-traditional way when working on ag litigation?
CP: In my law practice, I approach matters from both a lawyer’s and a farmer’s perspective.
With my understanding of the physical aspects and considerations at each stage of crop production and agribusiness, I believe I provide a comprehensive view of case facts, can better identify key issues, and can empathize with farmers to understand the motivations behind their operational or financial decisions.
WiAT: Anything else you would like to add?
CP: Over the last ten years, I have come to appreciate the great optimism in farming.
Despite mother nature holding most of the control, farmers consistently put their full effort into their crops and always look forward to an abundant harvest.