Understanding Agricultural Liability: Maryland's Right-to-Farm Law Can Limit Liability for Maryland Farmers and Commercial Fishing and Seafood Operators

14 Pages Posted: 22 May 2017

See all articles by Paul Goeringer

Paul Goeringer

University of Maryland - Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics

Lori Lynch

University of Maryland - Department of Agricultural & Resource Economics

Date Written: May 2, 2017

Abstract

Many agricultural areas in Maryland have seen individuals moving in with no farm backgrounds and little understanding of farm operations. Commercial fishing and seafood operations in Maryland have had the same experience. Once there, the inexperienced residents find noises, insects, farm equipment on the roads, smells, and other normal characteristics of agricultural and commercial seafood life unexpected and objectionable, and then they complain. In response, Maryland introduced a Right-to-Farm (RTF) law in 1981. Recently, the state updated the state’s right-to-farm (RTF) law to shield qualifying agricultural, commercial fishing and seafood operations from nuisance suits. This article highlights how Maryland's law operates.

Keywords: right-to-farm, ag law, nuisance, tort, coming to the nuisance

JEL Classification: K13, Q15, Q18

Suggested Citation

Goeringer, Paul and Lynch, Lori, Understanding Agricultural Liability: Maryland's Right-to-Farm Law Can Limit Liability for Maryland Farmers and Commercial Fishing and Seafood Operators (May 2, 2017). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2962157 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2962157

Paul Goeringer (Contact Author)

University of Maryland - Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics ( email )

Symmons Hall, Rm 2200
University of Maryland
College Park, MD 20742-5535
United States

HOME PAGE: http://aglaw.umd.edu

Lori Lynch

University of Maryland - Department of Agricultural & Resource Economics ( email )

2112A Symons Hall
College Park, MD 20742-5535
United States
301-405-1264 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://www.arec.umd.edu/llynch/

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