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For Immediate Release
October 11, 2002

White Supports Measure to Protect Family Farms from Discrimination

Initiative to protect farmers under attack from special interest groups.

Harrisburg – Bipartisan legislation designed to protect the rights of Pennsylvania farmers is under attack from strident special interest groups, state Sen. Mary Jo White (R-21) warned today.

Senate Bill 1413 is designed to ensure that local governments do not pass ordinances that are inconsistent with existing state laws that protect farmers, such as the Right to Farm law. 

“Local officials are sometimes pressured by new residents to a rural area who aren’t accustomed to the sounds and odors associated with farming to pass ordinances specifically aimed at preventing certain farming practices,” said White. “With that, farmers have to choose between a lengthy, costly legal battle with their own government, or shutting down farming operations that have been accepted for decades.”

White said a lobbying group called Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund held a news conference this week distorting the intent of the legislation, doing a major disservice to the Pennsylvania farming families that the measure will protect.

“Senate Bill 1413 is supported by the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, the Pennsylvania Grange and other farm organizations, and is not opposed by any of the major organizations representing municipalities,” said White.  “But a few townships in Eastern Pennsylvania are working with a small band of vocal activists to wage a mass e-mail campaign misrepresenting the bill. This is clearly a case in which the wishes of the many – who support farmers – must fight off the wishes of the few.”

In addition to prohibiting municipalities from passing ordinances that are inconsistent with the Right to Farm law, the bill also clarifies that when farmers and municipalities dispute an ordinance in court, the winner will be awarded legal fees and court costs. 

The bill would not allow farmers to circumvent current environmental laws nor change existing ordinances and zoning laws, said White, who wrote Pennsylvania’s Growing Greener law and chairs the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee.

“Opponents are trying to get people to think that this legislation is aimed at protecting large, ‘corporate farms.’ But that doesn’t make sense. Those operations have the money to fight local measures that violate state laws and the Pennsylvania Constitution,” said White. “It’s the small farms that are in jeopardy. In addition to droughts and all of the other challenges that come with running a farm, they also have to worry about facing an army of lawyers defending illegal, discriminatory local ordinances. It’s just too much.”

Senate Bill 1413 is currently in the House of Representatives for consideration.

“I’m confident the House can get beyond the lobbying effort and focus on the intent of the bill, and help preserve the right to farm in Pennsylvania,” said White.

CONTACT: Leigh Ramsey (717) 787-9684