02/16/07 Strengthening right to farm; Borck out

Washington Ag February 16, 2007 A bill to strengthen Washington's Right to Farm Law has been moved out of the House Agriculture and Natural Resource Committee with a do pass recommendation. House Bill 1648 broadens the definition of "agricultural activity" and adds the definition of "operation" to increase the protection of agricultural activities and operations from nuisance lawsuits. Dan Wood of the Washington Farm Bureau was among those who testified in support of the bill at a hearing earlier this week. He cited a state Supreme Court decision as an example of the need for an enhancement to the Right to Farm Law. In that case a Yakima County farmer had switched from growing apples to cherries. Wood: "And the neighbor who moved in next to the apple orchard decided that wasn't acceptable and then sued. And the Supreme Court held, surprisingly, with our current Right to Farm statute as clear as it seems, that that was not protected under the Right to Farm Statute." Wood said he believed HB1648 would provide the protections they are looking for. A restructuring and staff reorganization at the Washington Association of Wheat Growers is costing the organization's Director of Issues, Gretchen Borck, her job. Borck has been with the Wheat Growers 14 years. I'm Bob Hoff.