Farmers, environmentalists rally in Raleigh over Farm Act 2018

LELAND, NC (WWAY) — A farm act is being heavily debated across North Carolina.

Farmers from our area went to Raleigh today to rally in favor of it as property owners fight against it.

“The lawsuits against the hog industry can be devastating,” Wallace Mayor Charles Farrior said.

“Come and live where I live. Then, you’ll know what’s going on, but if you don’t live in my shoes, then you can’t walk in my shoes,” a property owner said at a rally in Raleigh.

The North Carolina Farm Act of 2018 limits property owners from filing nuisance lawsuits against industrial hog farms and other large farms among other things.

Earlier this year, a federal jury awarded residents of Bladen County $50 million in damages against the hog-farming division of Smithfield foods. A judge reduced the amount to $3.25 million.

Wallace Mayor and poultry farmer Charles Farrior said those lawsuits could really hurt the agricultural industry.

“This industry is extremely important to eastern North Carolina and to the economy of eastern North Carolina and if it goes away it will be devastating for small towns,” Farrior said.

The bill has gotten approval in the general assembly, but that is something property owners and environmentalists are not happy about.

“The fact that our legislators, the people that we voted in are siding with industry. I just said this is shameful.”

Both Republicans and Democrats are asking the governor to veto the bill to protect the rights of property owners, but Farrior said that brings on many concerns.

“The lack of protection and that the suits will be allowed to move forward with the potential of very large awards going to property owners that are being encouraged by out of state lawyers and being promised big money,” Farrior said.

The bill still needs a decision from Governor Roy Cooper.

We reached out to local lawmakers for comment. Rep. Ted Davis is against the bill. Rep. William Brisson is for the bill. We are waiting to hear back from others.