Action Delayed on Right-to-Farm Law

County supervisors on Tuesday postponed consideration of a new ordinance that would protect farmers from nuisance lawsuits filed by their residential neighbors.

With concern mounting over the so-called right-to-farm ordinance and board Chairman John K. Flynn absent on county business in Sacramento, remaining supervisors agreed to postpone a planned public hearing until at least September.

Officials say farms frequently become targets of nuisance claims from new residential neighbors who complain about smells, dust, noise and other farm hazards.

Farmers are then forced to shut down or scale back operations, discouraging investment and threatening the economic viability of the county’s agricultural industry, the ordinance states.

The ordinance also would require home sellers to warn buyers before they move in about what living next to farms can mean.

While many applaud the proposal in concept, it already has drawn concern from several rural-area citizens, organic farmers and others who fear that the ordinance language is vague, misleading or inconsistent with state law.