WOZNIAK SUPPORTS ACRE INITIATIVE FOR FARMERS

HARRISBURG, July 5 – Pennsylvania’s ACRE initiative won Senate passage Tuesday, bringing farmers one step closer to avoiding drawn-out legal disputes over “factory farms” and other local ordinances, according to state Sen. John N. Wozniak.

          “On the day that we celebrate our nation’s independence, the Senate voted to protect our farmers and our rural communities, the backbone of America,” said Wozniak (D-Cambria/ Clinton/ Centre/ Clearfield/ Somerset).

          On Monday, the Senate approved House Bill 1646, also known as the Agriculture Communities and Rural Environment (ACRE) initiative, by a 49-1 vote.

          The legislation would allow farm owners and operators to request the Attorney General to review any local ordinance disputes. Local governments would be prohibited from adopting or enforcing any local ordinance that is deemed “unauthorized.”

          In addition, the bill would make Pennsylvania the first and only state to enforce farm odor mitigation, requiring that require all new or expanded Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) and Concentrated Animal Operations (CAOs) develop an odor management plan with strict water-quality requirements.

          “By passing the ACRE initiative, we would save farmers valuable time and money by cutting down on the number of legal battles over local rulings,” Wozniak said. “We also would promote cleaner, healthier communities by enforcing responsible farm odor management.”