Session: State Capitol, Room 125 Juneau, AK 99801-1182 Phone: (907) 465-6600 Fax: (907) 465-3805 Interim: 600 E. Railroad Ave. Wasilla, AK 99654-7035 Phone: (907) 376-3370 Fax: (907) 376-3157

Sponsor Statement for SB 60
Farm Operations: Disclosure/Nuisances

An Act relating to agricultural facilities and operations as private nuisances; and to disclosures in transfers of real property located within one mile of an agricultural facility or an agricultural operation.

Senate Bill 60, "the Right-to-Farm bill", would add protection to existing agriculture operations and put new property buyers on notice if the property they are acquiring is within one mile of a farm or agricultural operation. This also protects the new property owners through full disclosure that should ensure they are not unpleasantly surprised by farm activities after buying property close to an agricultural facility.

The Right-to-Farm bill seeks to protect and enhance Alaska's agricultural sector. With the export of potatoes and carrots from Alaska, and the increasing local demand for fresh vegetables, hay, barley, milk, pork and beef, we can see agriculture "taking root and growing" in many diverse locations across the state. Yet, as the state's population grows and urban areas expand, we see a corresponding need to protect our interest in agriculture.

Many farmers have already had some experience with an encroachment on their right to farm. As urbanization swallows up farming areas, oftentimes the newcomers don't like the smells of agriculture - or the chemicals - or the sounds - or the animals. People who move to the country need to know what they are getting into. And it appears that other areas of the nation - where urban sprawl is creating a bigger problem than we have experienced yet in Alaska - are taking action to protect existing agricultural operations and avoid unnecessary lawsuits.

The Right-to-Farm bill takes the innovative approach of coupling a farmer's grand-fathered right to continue his agricultural activities to the filing and maintaining of a farm conservation plan with the U.S.D.A. Soil and Water Conservation Service. Expansion of operations or other changes to the conservation plan would not necessarily be grand-fathered in regard to existing rights of surrounding property owners.

Alaska has the opportunity to place protections in statute now - both for the farmers and the new property buyers - so that future agricultural operations will be able to continue providing Alaskan products while protecting the agricultural way of life.

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