Written by M. Sean High – Staff Attorney
The following information is an update of recent,
local, state, national, and international legal developments relevant to
agriculture:
Referendum:
North Dakota Votes against Corporate Farms
On June 14, 2016, North Dakota voters voted against Referred Measure 1 which appeared on the ballot as a veto referendum. As a result of the vote, Senate Bill 2351, state
legislation “designed to allow domestic corporations and limited liability
companies to own and operate dairy farms and swine production facilities on no
more than 640 acres of land,” was repealed.
Drones:
FAA Announces New Rule
On June 21, 2016, the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) issued a document announcing a Final Rule “amending its
regulations to allow the operation of small unmanned aircraft systems in the
National Airspace System.” According to FAA, “[t]hese changes address the operation
of unmanned aircraft systems and certification of their remote pilots…[and] will
also prohibit model aircraft from endangering the safety of the National
Airspace System.” The document is currently being reviewed by the Office of the
Federal Register; the Final Rule will become effective 60 days after the document
is published in the Federal Register.
Animal
Welfare: APHIS Updates Horse Disqualification and Civil Penalty List
On June 16, 2016, the United States Department of
Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) published
the latest updates to USDA’s Horse Protection Act Disqualification and Civil Penalty List which “identifies individuals and/or companies that have been
assessed a Federal Disqualification under the Horse Protection Act.” According
to APHIS, “[w]hile under Federal Disqualification, a person is prohibited from
showing, exhibiting or entering any horse, directly or indirectly through any
agent, employee, or other device, and from judging, managing or otherwise
participating in any horse show, horse exhibition or horse sale or auction.”
Legislation:
PA Senate Agricultural and Rural Affairs Committee Reports Two Bills
On June 23, 2016, the Pennsylvania Senate
Agricultural and Rural Affairs committee voted to report Senate Bill 1110 (SB1110)
and House Bill 967 (HB 967) to the Pennsylvania Senate for first
consideration. Accordingly, SB 1110 “would
repeal the Noxious Weed Control Law (Act 74 of 1982) and replace it with the
Controlled Plant and Noxious Weed Act to better control existing and
potentially noxious weeds, maximizing the control resources of invasive species
and protecting state lands,” while HB 967 would legalize, for research
purposes, the growth and cultivation of industrial hemp.
