Raleigh – On Tuesday, the North Carolina Senate passed the third Farm Act in as many years with strong, bipartisan support. Senate Bill 513, sponsored by Senator Brent Jackson (R-Sampson/Johnston) and Senator Andrew Brock (R-Davie), is an omnibus bill intended to comprehensively address the needs of North Carolina’s farmers and promote the state’s number one industry – agriculture.
The 2015 Farm Act includes provisions that make it easier for farmers to plant, grow, pack, and ship their products, as well as operate the equipment that makes it all possible. It contains provisions intended to:
-Define and support sustainable agriculture
-Protect farmers and law enforcement officers by clarifying various transportation laws.
-Expand the deer farming industry and prevent the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease.
-Encourage the use of prescribed burning as a land management tool.
– Promote North Carolina viticulture by distinguishing “farm wineries”.
Senator Jackson said, “When I first ran for Senate, I did so with the intention of ensuring that agriculture – North Carolina’s largest industry and the economic foundation of our rural areas – was given the attention it deserves. This year’s Farm Act demonstrates the Senate’s continued commitment to ensuring that this $78 billion industry continues to thrive and create prosperity in farming communities across the state.”
