A new ruling, marking a win for farmers

MARYLAND – A new ruling has come down from the appellate court of Maryland in Talbot County.

It’s a win for farmers, that some are calling necessary protections to keep them in business.  “With less than 2% of the American population being farmers, that farmers have some protections, have the ability to diversify farms, to be able to use different methods of fertilizer, different methods of farming on their farm, to continue to grow the food that we all consume,” said Holly Porter, Executive Director of Delmarva Chicken Association.

WMDT spoke with one Worcester County farmer who says this ruling impacts the protections that farmers have. “If you stay within your neutral management plan and which most people do, then you will not be sued. You will not be fined by the state. MDA, MDe or anybody else,” said Farmer, Virgil Shockley.

Farmer Virgil Shockley says this has been a battle for years, but without these protections, Delmarva Chicken Association’s Executive Director, Holly Porter says it puts an extra cost on the farmer. “Any farmers that are adding fertilizers because all crops need additional nutrients to grow those fertilizer costs, those are input costs and they have a cost to them. So when we’re able to look at alternative fertilizers, when folks are able to look at recycling other materials such as chicken litter, which is a great resource,” said Porter.

Shockley puts that in perspective saying without protections, it could be the end all be all on the farm. “If you continue with the prices being down? This only works if the prices are up. Okay. Corn above $7. Beans above $14. This only works at that – when corn goes to 5. Beans go to 11. Then your cost per acre will drive you out of business,” Shockley explained.

You can also see a copy of the ruling here.