NC Farmers React to Cooper's Veto of HB 467

  Thousands of family farmers across North Carolina are expressing disappointment today over Gov. Cooper's decision to veto House Bill 467.The decision to veto a bill that would protect family farmers from predatory lawyers is a blow to North Carolina agriculture, our state's number one industry."I'm so disappointed with Gov. Cooper's decision. He doesn't know how many farmers he has let down," said Lorenda Overman, a Wayne County farmer.Elwood Garner had a similar reaction."It's disheartening," Garner said. "This bill could help keep hog farmers in business. We're already the most regulated industry in the state and we're not doing anything wrong."In his veto message, Gov. Cooper expressed concern about providing protections to a single industry. But North Carolina law offers special protections to countless industries – from fast food restaurants and skate parks to construction contractors and technology companies. Farmers deserve the same protections.Louis Howard, a farmer from Kenansville who was previously targeted in a nuisance suit, was stunned when he heard the news. "I just don't know what to say... Farmers like me were counting on this bill to protect us. I know just how dangerous these lawyers are.""I'm very disappointed, but not surprised," said Gaye Crowther, a farmer from Tabor City. "He vetoed it even though it passed with strong support, bipartisan support. As a pork producer, I'm concerned because it makes us more vulnerable to lawsuits."We urge the NC General Assembly to stand with farmers and override the Governor’s veto.  

Statement by North Carolina Farm Families on Veto of House Bill 467

Governor Cooper’s veto is a hard-blow to farmers. The pork industry invests billions of dollars in North Carolina. Farmers and integrators support their communities and give generously to charitable causes. They strive every day to be good environmental stewards and, above all, good neighbors. The hard-working family farmers who raise hogs in North Carolina deserve better than this.If Governor Cooper’s veto stands, it will jeopardize tens of thousands of jobs in our state. It will jeopardize the incomes and economic survival of thousands of farm families. The economic losses could be devastating to rural communities. The only winners will be predatory lawyers who swoop into rural communities, turn neighbor against neighbor for one purpose – to generate huge financial windfalls for themselves.HB467 passed both the House and Senate with support from Democrats and Republicans. We call on the North Carolina General Assembly to quickly override Governor Cooper’s ill-advised veto. 

DC Activist Group Sides With Predatory Lawyers: Threatens Thousands of Jobs in North Carolina

 Twisting the law and twisting scientific facts are nothing new for the anti-farm Washington, DC-based activist group EWG. Now EWG is taking the side of predatory lawyers against North Carolina farmers. If EWG is successful, thousands of jobs in hog farming and pork processing will be in jeopardy.In an April 17 news release, EWG criticized – and misrepresented – House Bill 467, which has passed the N.C. House and is before the Senate.The bill will protect family farmers against ruinous, massive tort litigation, such as a current North Carolina case. There, lawyers swooped in on private jets and aggressively signed up hundreds of residents for “nuisance” lawsuits against hog farms. Some residents didn’t know what they were signing. Others live miles from the farms they are suing.The lawyers seek huge financial damages, based solely on claims that the farms are an “annoyance,” “bothersome” or make other residents “fearful.”That is wrong. Here is how HB 467 fixes the problem:

• It makes clear that plaintiffs in nuisance cases can recover only the lost market value of their property.
• It still allows anyone who has suffered actual harm to sue for higher damages.

EWG is twisting the facts about the legislation. By misleading legislators and the public, EWG is serving the interests of predatory lawyers who could force any farmer into bankruptcy without just cause. That in turn would jeopardize employees in processing plants. And it would threaten the economic livelihoods of thousands more people whose jobs and business depend on hog farming and pork processing.EWG also attacked Smithfield Foods in an attempt to stir up opposition to farmers and the pork industry.Here are the facts:Smithfield was founded and is based in Smithfield, Virginia. Kenneth M. Sullivan is President and CEO. Smithfield is a subsidiary of the WH Group, a publicly listed company on the Hong Kong Exchange. Anyone, anywhere in the world can purchase shares of the WH Group. In fact, the WH Group’s shareholder list includes large institutional investors such as U.S. pension funds and hedge funds.Smithfield provides nearly 12,000 jobs in North Carolina, in farming and processing. The company has 215 company-owned farms in the state. It contracts with 1,380 independent pork producers, who are family farmers.Members of the legislature and the general public should reject the anti-farm campaign of EWG and its allies. Stick to the facts. Protect farmers. Save our jobs.