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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Eye On Boise

Bill to protect feedlots advances

Here's a news item from the Associated Press:  BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A bill headed to the Idaho House would make it easier for farmers to enlarge their feedlot operations, but more difficult for opponents to challenge those plans in court. The House Agricultural Affairs Committee signed off on legislation Wednesday to bolster Idaho's Right to Farm Act. It now goes to the full House. Supporters say it will protect agricultural operations such as feedlots from local ordinances that regulate farms. But opponents say the measure would shield corporate farms from nuisance lawsuits and severely reduce local government control on the growth of feedlot operations. The measure was brought to the House committee last week and amended to delete a section that would require people who bring nuisance claims against agricultural operations to pay full legal fees if they lost the dispute.

Betsy Z. Russell

Betsy Z. Russell joined The Spokesman-Review in 1991. She currently is a reporter in the Boise Bureau covering Idaho state government and politics, and other news from Idaho's state capital.

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