Opinion ID: 1985369
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: The Rhode Island Right to Farm Act

Text: The Right to Farm Act represents a legislative determination that the state's remaining agrarian land should be preserved and protected to the extent possible, to remain in farming and be safeguarded against nuisance actions arising out of conflicts between agricultural operations and urban land uses. Section 2-23-3. The town asserted that the Farm Act is limited to the prohibition or elimination of litigation arising from nuisance complaints against agricultural activities that conflict with the full enjoyment of surrounding residential property. However, we note that this case arose from a series of complaints about excessive dust emanating from the turf farm by neighboring landowners. Certainly, these complaints fall within § 2-23-5(a)(3), which specifically exempts [d]ust created during plowing or cultivation operations from becoming either a private or public nuisance. Although we agree with the town that the Farm Act is applicable to nuisance actions, we are cognizant that the statute is a statement of policy by the Legislature that farming activities and activities incidental to the right to farm ought not to be arbitrarily prohibited on the ground that the activity is objectionable on the ground of nuisance to either surrounding landowners or the municipality where the farm is located. Certainly, the town's interpretation of the removal and zoning ordinance is in direct conflict with the Alberts' right to continue to farm this parcel. The removal ordinance in question, however, was enacted in order to promote the public health, safety and general welfare of the town, and not only provides for the licensing of any earth removal operation, but also includes a series of regulations clearly designed to prevent any adverse condition arising from the activity from migrating onto neighboring land or the town's roadways and thus creating a nuisance. According to the town's interpretation of its zoning ordinance, the Alberts were completely precluded from creating an irrigation pond on their farm at any time. Significantly, given this interpretation there was no available avenue of relief contained in the ordinances of the town, notwithstanding the finding of the trial justice that irrigation of the crops and an irrigation pond is essential for the continued vitality of the turf farm. We deem this to be potentially fatal to Alberts' long-standing agricultural operation at this location and in conflict with the policy of this state to encourage the continued viability of the state's remaining farming operations. Therefore, we are of the opinion that this legislative scheme, designed to prevent the creation of nuisances, must be interpreted so as to not seriously infringe on ordinary farming operations within the town.