NEW JERSEY – Senator Parker Space’s (R-24) bill that would strengthen the legal protection of commercial farmers under the Right to Farm Act passed the New Jersey Senate.
“It’s hard enough to make a living farming the land so it’s especially costly for farmers to have to deal with nuisance complaints,” said Space. “Preserving land alone won’t save farming, preserving farmers’ way of life has an even greater impact. By enacting this bill, we would help protect our farming community by discouraging bad-faith lawsuits that waste time and money, while preserving the integrity of New Jersey’s proud agricultural heritage.”
Under the bill, S-3662, a farmer seeking to recover costs and fees would apply to the county agriculture development board or the SADC for determination if the preponderance of evidence supports that the complaint was made in bad faith.
If the determination is confirmed, the appropriate board would issue an order for the complainant to pay the reasonable costs and fees to the farmer.
