I. General Information

1. Course Title:
Legal Issues for Specialty Crop Growers

2. Course Prefix & Number:
SCMT 2305

3. Course Credits and Contact Hours:

Credits: 2

Lecture Hours: 2

4. Course Description:

Students will learn the different laws that regulate specialty crop businesses and the legal ramifications of transferring the business.

5. Placement Tests Required:

Accuplacer (specify test):

No placement tests required

Score:

6. Prerequisite Courses:

There are no prerequisites for this course.

9. Co-requisite Courses:

There are no corequisites for this course.

II. Transfer and Articulation

1. Course Equivalency - similar course from other regional institutions:

 

III. Course Purpose

1. Program-Applicable Courses – This course is required for the following program(s):

Specialty Crops Management, Diploma

IV. Learning Outcomes

1. College-Wide Outcomes

College-Wide Outcomes/Competencies	Students will be able to:
Demonstrate written communication skills	Identify laws that apply to specialty crop businesses
Demonstrate reading and listening skills	Identify rural zoning and easements that apply to specialty crop businesses
Apply ethical principles in decision-making	Explain the importance of following laws regulating direct market farms

2. Course Specific Outcomes - Students will be able to achieve the following measurable goals upon completion of the course:

• List applicable worker protection standards
• Differentiate types of ownership (sole proprietor, partnership, LLC, etc.)
• Discuss estate planning options
• Identify rural zoning and easements
• List legal responsibilities for employers and employees
• Describe types of ownership and transfer

V. Topical Outline

Listed below are major areas of content typically covered in this course.

1. Lecture Sessions

1. Ownership laws
• Types of ownership: LLC, sole proprietor
• Laws that affect transfer of the business
2. Laws regarding employees
• Worker protection standards
• Worker's compensation
• Minimum wages
• Minimum ages for different types of workers
• Harvesters
• Equipment operators
3. Organizing and operating a business
• Licenses
• Taxation
4. Land use and property law
• Zoning
• Leases
• Property easements
• Laws concerning pesticide drift
• Access to public roads
5. Transfer of the business
• Estate planning
• Selling the business