U.S. Department of Agriculture certifies Quinnipiac University’s School of Law to operate mediation program

The Quinnipiac University School of Law’s Center On Dispute Resolution has received certification from the United States Department of Agriculture to establish and operate the Connecticut Agricultural Mediation Program on the North Haven Campus.

The Quinnipiac University School of Law’s Center On Dispute Resolution has received certification from the United States Department of Agriculture to establish and operate the Connecticut Agricultural Mediation Program on the North Haven Campus.

The Farm Service Agency administers the USDA Mediation Program. The Agricultural Credit Act of 1987 authorized the secretary of agriculture to help states develop and participate in the mediation programs through matching grants.

The Center on Dispute Resolution worked with Connecticut Department of Agriculture Commissioner Steven K. Reviczky and Farm Services Agency State Director Bryan Hurlburt to bring the program to Connecticut.

“Dispute resolution programs like this have been highly successful in other states and I welcome the opportunity to work with the law school at Quinnipiac to provide services to Connecticut’s agricultural community,” Reviczky said.

The mediation services will be at no cost to agricultural producers, creditors and other persons directly affected by the actions of the USDA to help them reach mutually agreeable settlement of their disputes in a confidential setting. In addition to providing mediation services, state agricultural mediation programs also provide conflict resolution training and education to farmers, agri-businesses, local officials and state and federal agencies.

Jennifer Gerarda Brown, dean of the law school, said, “The law school and the center are excited about this unique opportunity to partner with the farming and rural communities of Connecticut to provide high-quality mediation and conflict resolution services. We all have a vested interest in keeping our farms productive and viable.”

In the coming weeks the program will be set up and outreach to the agricultural community will begin. For more information about the program, email [email protected].

Posted by Chris

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