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Dear Editor,
My name is, “Jake Carter,” and I am a Henry County Farmer. I am proud to be the fifth generation of my family to farm our land in Henry County. Over time we have adapted and changed our farming operation to best suit the needs of our growing community. On our farm today we grow strawberries, peaches, blackberries and blueberries, for everyone to enjoy. What was once a dairy farm is now changed to a working educational farm where we host around 40,000 elementary school kids each year so they may learn about the importance of agriculture in our society. We are also open to the general public so visitors may shop our market for jellies, home made ice cream, fresh pound cake, and varying fruits and vegetables. They may also pick fresh fruit from the field to take home, visit the farm animals, or sit on the porch and enjoy the experience of the the farm sights and sounds.
We love what we do and hope to provide the opportunity of farming to the sixth generation of Carters to continue if they choose. It is a joy to offer our neighbors fresh fruits and vegetables while, at the same time, provide fun agricultural experiences for Georgia children that teach necessasry life lessons.
As Americans, we are spoiled by having our grocery stores well-stocked with a variety of foods, available 24/7. The majority of the food at our local stores is grown in the U.S. Many commodities, such as poultry, eggs, beef, milk, fresh vegetables and fruit are grown by Georgia farmers.
We’ve recently seen the toilet paper and bread aisles at our grocery stores emptied due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This is expected to be temporary. Imagine how our grocery stores might look if our Georgia farmers are shut down due to nuisance lawsuits.
For about 40 years Georgia farmers have relied on an existing Right to Farm law to protect us from nuisance lawsuits when new neighbors move in and sue the farmer next to them because they don’t like the dust, the noise or odors of our farms.
In recent years, a series of lawsuits have been filed against family livestock farmers in a nearby Southern state. That state’s Right to Farm law was essentially the same as Georgia’s. A judge hearing the cases said the state’s law didn’t protect the farmers against the nuisance claims. As a result of the lawsuits, the livestock farmers are no longer raising animals.
This is why farmers across Georgia are supporting House Bill 545. We need a state Right to Farm law that eliminates existing subjective language that lawyers can use to shut down our farms.
Lawyers, environmental groups, and others who don’t like how farmers raise our animals and crops are behind most of the incorrect information being spread statewide about HB 545. People currently suing farmers have submitted editorials opposing HB 545 that have run in papers across the state. I am a true farmer. Farming is my business, my life’s work. I want the public to know the truth and act in favor of the farmer.
Opponents of HB 545 say this legislation will allow farmers to pollute our soil, water and air. This isn’t true. Farmers have to obtain permits to manage livestock manure produced on our farms and licenses to apply pesticides to our crops. There are strict environmental regulations we must follow for storing manure or applying it to our land as fertilizer to protect the environment. The same goes for farmers who use pesticides and herbicides to protect our crops from insects and diseases. This bill doesn’t change a single one of these standards.
HB 545 wouldn’t protect farmers whose practices are negligent, improper or illegal. It wouldn’t protect a farm violating any state or federal environmental laws and regulations enforced by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Division or other regulatory agencies. This legislation also would not keep farmers from having to comply with county, state or federal laws related to zoning.
Nuisance lawsuits aren’t limited to livestock producers. They can be filed against all types of farmers if a neighbor doesn’t like the sound of our equipment or how we grow our crops.
I’m asking my state senator to vote in favor of HB 545. If you value Georgia farmers, I encourage you to do the same.
Sincerely,
Jake Carter, McDonough
