A North Carolina jury found a Smithfield Foods hog farm posed a nuisance to neighbors and awarded them $25 million in damages. Pork producers from around the country are watching that case and concerned about any spin off effects. Nebraska Pork Producers Association Executive Director Al Juhnke says the situation in North Carolina with pork operations is much different than in the Northern Plains.
He says the recent North Carolina case was based on nuisance law. Juhnke says Nebraska’s nuisance statutes work very well for pork producers as well as residents.
Juhnke says Nebraska’s farmers and ranchers are trying to be good neighbors and want to remain on good terms with those not directly involved in agriculture.
The latest jury decision in North Carolina came the same week that their state legislature enacted a law protecting hog farms from nuisance lawsuits.
