Current Minnesota law exempts the vast majority of livestock farms from being subject to a nuisance claim related to, for example, odor or air pollution. The largest factory farms over 1,000 animal units in size (2,400 sows, for example) are not exempt from being sued for nuisance violations.

House File 582 and Senate File 482 would make it possible for the state’s largest factory farms to be shielded from nuisance laws, even preventing state agencies and local government from pursuing action to abate a confined animal feedlot operation) that is a public nuisance. This law, which is authored by Rep. Paul Anderson, R-Starbuck, in the House and Sen. Dan Sparks, DFL-Austin,  in the Senate, would undermine the rights of citizens and governments to hold factory farms accountable.

Contact your state representative and state senator today. Tell them you oppose H.F. 582 and S.F. 482 legislation that puts factory farms before people and the land. Call your state legislators at the Minnesota Capitol switchboard: 651-296-2146 (House) and 651-296-0504 (Senate). Take action now.

 

Brad Trom

Blooming Prairie