02/25/05 Bill on farmer nuisance complaints

Washington Ag February 25, 2005 Bipartisan legislation that would protect farmers from nuisance complaints against ordinary farming practices has been passed out of the Senate Agriculture and Rural Development Committee. At a hearing this week the committee heard from people like Sharon Baker, whose family had a farm near Vancouver and had to battle unfounded claims of harm from a herbicide application. Baker: "In the end it was such a legal battle and so much stress that my mother just got tired and she decided rather than continue to farm for a minimum of five more years that she would give up." Pierce County U-pick producer Mike Solitano did win his two year battle started by a new neighbor who wanted him out. Solitano: "They were wrong, but with the weight of the county government, and I mentioned it to another county enforcement officer when we finally got the decision, I said we won. His reaction, because they do stick together, was well you won this time. Meaning, they will be back." Senate Bill 5962 would among other things allow a wrongfully charged farm to recover triple damages and actual attorney fees. It would also require sellers of property within one mile of a farm to inform the buyer the property being purchased is located near a farm, which may generate noise, dust, odors and other conditions, which are protected by the Washington right to farm act. I'm Bob Hoff.