Senator Thom Tillis, Chairman Mike Conaway (TX), North Carolina Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler will join a roundtable to discuss economic impact
On Friday, August 3rd at 9:00 a.m., U.S. Congressman David Rouzer (R-NC), U.S. Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC), U.S. House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway (R-TX), and North Carolina Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler will convene a National Agriculture Leaders Roundtable to discuss the threat that nuisance lawsuits pose to the U.S. agriculture industry, rural America, and farm families nationwide. The roundtable will be comprised of federal officials, state officials, economists, and national agriculture industry representatives, including the President of the American Farm Bureau, Zippy Duvall.
“Today’s nuisance lawsuits that are destroying livelihoods and communities in North Carolina are the tip of the iceberg for what is to come absent a well-informed public and good public policy. A ‘nuisance’ is very much in the eye of the beholder and every single farm family that is in compliance with all applicable regulations – no matter what they are growing – should have a safe harbor from legal action being brought against them. This is a very slippery slope that threatens the very existence of every form of agriculture nationwide,” said Congressman David Rouzer.
“I want to thank Congressman Rouzer for hosting this roundtable to hear directly from North Carolina’s farmers about how the nuisance lawsuits could affect their livelihoods. The influence from outside lawyers in this case has the potential to decimate our state’s vibrant agriculture industry and the countless rural communities supported by it. Agriculture is the number one industry in North Carolina, and it is important to hear from those affected by this threat. These lawsuits have the potential to affect the agriculture community and farmers nationwide, and I look forward to participating in this event to learn how North Carolinians could be affected and how we can help,” said Senator Thom Tillis.
“Agriculture is a blessing that most of us count on at least three times a day. Not a nuisance. People need to understand that every food item starts on a farm, not a grocery store shelf. When we take our farmers and food production for granted, we stand to literally lose the hand that feeds us. I am grateful that others are paying attention to this issue which could affect farmers everywhere,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler.
NC Senator Brent Jackson (R-Sampson), Lt. Governor dan Forest, NC House Majority Leader John Bell, USDA Under Sectretary Bill Northey, and representatives from more than a dozen farm and agricultural organizations are also expected to attend.
The event takes place at the Gov. James G. Martin Building at the North Carolina Fairgrounds in Raleigh.
