North Carolina's agricultural industry is in the spotlight again this week, as local and national advocacy groups rally to urge the state's governor to veto new right-to-farm legislation.
In a letter to Gov. Roy Cooper, the groups are urging him to veto Senate Bill 711, also known as the Farm Act.
"S711 is bad policy, jeopardizes the health and property of vulnerable neighbors, and exposes state government to potentially enormous liabilities," the letter to Gov. Cooper reads.
The Farm Act- which has already passed the Senate - seeks to curtail farm-nuisance lawsuits by requiring plaintiffs in to demonstrate that the farm in question is not adhering to "generally accepted and routinely utilized" agricultural practices.
The legislation does not address that these "generally accepted practices" - like hog lagoons and liquified manure as fertilizer - often cause health and environmental disasters in neighboring communities.
In fact, the Farm Act comes on the heels of a $50 million victory for one set of 10 plantiffs in a lawsuit against Smithfield subsidiary Murphy-Brown. In this case, a jury found these "generally accepted practices" exposed neighbors to health risks and lowered their quality of life, and "substantially and unreasonably [interfered] with the plaintiff's use and enjoyment of his or her property."
There are 26 more lawsuits against Murphy-Brown pending. Senate Bill 711 would not apply to these lawsuits already being process by the courts but would apply to future cases.
The bill passed the state Senate last week, and Gov. Cooper has until June 25 to decide to veto it.
Read More:
Senate passes N.C. Farm Act of 2018 (North State Journal)
