Big Agriculture Just Lost On Big Bills In States Across The Country

State and local groups won critical legislative battles against Big Ag and factory farming in Georgia, Wisconsin, and Utah over the last couple of days.

• In Wisconsin, disastrous bills to loosen factory farm approval regulations and take away local decision-making power (AB 894 and SB 808) died before even making it to votes in the legislature.
• In Utah, legislation (SB 106) seeking to take away zoning control from counties trying to protect their residents from factory farm pollution was defeated.
• In Georgia, a “right to farm” bill (HB 545) was tabled, meaning bill movement has been postponed and likely halted. If passed, the bill would limit “nuisance complaints,” or the freedom of residents surrounding factory farms to sue for things like excessive noise or smell. 

The future of the nation’s food and agricultural economy is increasingly in question as rural communities grapple with factory farming devastation and monopolization.

In response, Rebecca Wolf from Food & Water Action, issued the following statement:

“The rapid expansion of factory farming across the nation is finally coming to a crux. We’re looking at not one, not two, but three massive wins against Big Ag in just the past couple of days. Communities, made up of voters from across the political spectrum, are coming together to finally stop corporate agriculture from tearing them apart for the sake of higher profits. 

“Congratulations to the communities in Wisconsin who maintained local control over air and water rights by beating two disastrous bills aiming to loosen factory farm regulations. And a round of applause to those in Utah who defeated legislation seeking to clear the way for large-scale hog factory farms. Thank you to the groups in Georgia who are working to block unrestrained factory farm pollution by halting a “right to farm” bill.  

“These wins against factory farms are a huge display of organizing power and proof of the changing tide. Wins like these make sure local people get to make local decisions, not enormous agricultural conglomerates that eat up communities and small, family farms without a second thought. It’s time for an overhaul of industrial agribusiness and to stop factory farming once and for all.”