Vermont committee weighs changes to farm nuisance law, agrees to add “final order” language

Summary

Lawmakers on the Agriculture, Food Resiliency, & Forestry Committee discussed proposed amendments to the state—s nuisance protections for farms, debated whether the bill would favor large operations over small farms, and directed staff to add language clarifying the role of an administrative "final order" before a farmer loses protection.

Members of the Vermont House Agriculture, Food Resiliency, & Forestry Committee on Friday debated proposed changes to a statute that shields agricultural activities from nuisance lawsuits, focusing on whether the draft favors large, consolidated farms and how enforcement actions should affect a farm—s legal protections.

The committee directed staff to insert language specifying that a farmer—s "good standing" — and therefore access to nuisance protections — should only be lost once an enforcement proceeding has produced a final administrative order, and agreed to reconvene the following morning to consider that change and take a straw poll.

Representative Bosland, a committee member, said the bulk of public input the committee had received appeared to come from large dairy and corn operations. "The huge majority of them are giant dairy farmers, and then there's some giant corn farmers," Bosland said, and added she had fewer contacts from smaller or organic…

Vermont committee weighs changes to farm nuisance law, agrees to add “final order” language

Summary

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