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Support Regulatory Cost/Benefit Analysis
The NC Agribusiness Council supports a cost/benefit analysis
of all regulations affecting agribusiness interests to ensure that
any measure supports agribusiness and does not damage the
economic health of the state. |
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Support Dillon’s Rule
The NC Agribusiness Council supports the Dillon Rule, a longstanding
rule of statutory construction used in determining the
powers of local governments in North Carolina. Under the
Dillon Rule, a local government has only certain powers: 1)
those granted to it by the legislature in express words; 2) those
necessarily or fairly implied in or incident to the powers
expressly granted; and 3) those essential to accomplishment of
the unit’s declared objects and purposes. |
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Support Developing Parameters of Authority
The NC Agribusiness Council supports the development of
parameters of authority for government to ensure that the
rights of individual and commercial property owners are protected. |
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Oppose State Regulations Inconsistent
With Federal Regulations
The NC Agribusiness Council recommends that programs
implemented by any state agency that adopts regulations
where federal regulations may also be in effect, be adopted in
a manner consistent with federal law. In light of the current
economic climate affecting businesses and individuals in our
state, the Council supports state initiatives that differ from federal
requirements only in the case of: 1) an imminent threat to
human health or the environment not adequately addressed
by federal rules; 2) after a sound analysis of the economic
impacts of the initiative; and 3) after a complete analysis of
the competitive implications of the initiative as compared to
other southeastern states. |
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Support Protection of Property Rights of Water
The NC Agribusiness Council encourages all state and federal
agencies to recognize the importance of, and legal right to,
water for private landowners. Be it further resolved that the
use of water for agricultural purposes be recognized by the
state as among the highest and most essential uses of water
and that the rights of the landowner in utilizing both surface
and ground water be protected and preserved. |
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Support Public Awareness and Education
of All Sources of Water Pollution
The NC Agribusiness Council promotes and supports academic
and government studies as well as educational efforts to
ensure that the public has a full understanding of all potential
sources of water pollution across North Carolina. The Council
supports environmentally sound public policies to promote
water quality. |
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Support Government Reform and Efficiencies
The NC Agribusiness Council supports federal and state efforts
to reform government agencies and programs to produce efficiencies
and lower costs. Reforms may include consolidating
programs or agency delivery options. The Council will take
positions on significant specific reforms on a case by case
basis. |
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Oppose Frivolous Lawsuits
The NC Agribusiness Council opposes to frivolous lawsuits,
especially nuisance suits, and supports legislation to discourage
these types of lawsuits. The Council further encourages
all state and federal agencies to recognize the economic detriment
of these types of lawsuits to the state of North Carolina. |
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Support Lifting Expiration Of State Veterinary disease
Management Authority
The NC Agribusiness Council supports lifting the expiration
provision of the State Veterinary Disease Management
Authority, which strengthens the ability of the State
Veterinarian to successfully manage serious and contagious
animal diseases which result from deliberate, natural or
accidental introductions. |
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Support Voluntary, Non-regulatory Programs and Incentives
to Improve and Conserve Natural Resources in NC
The NC Agribusiness Council supports the continuation of voluntary,
non-regulatory programs and incentives to improve
and conserve the natural resources of NC and thereby supports
continuation of funding by the state for the NC Soil and
Water Conservation Districts program. This program is
designed to work with agriculture and private land owners
and local communities to address natural resource management
concerns and ensure the best possible environmental
stewardship possible. Volunteers from across the state participate
in this program to work with their neighbors to improve
water quality, wildlife habitat, soil conditions and other natural
resources conservation. |
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Support Agriculture Exemption of Water Use Registration
and Voluntary Data Collection through NCDA
The NC Agribusiness Council supports maintaining the current
agriculture exemption of registering water use at 1 million gallons.
Decreasing this threshold would result in an unnecessary
burden on North Carolina farmers in terms of filing more
paperwork as well as the cost associated with registration
including metering system costs and fees. Furthermore the collection
of this data by DENR would be a duplicative expense
since another state agency already collects other farm information.
The Council further supports the need for better information
regarding the water needs of agriculture and supports
NCDA collecting water use data while gathering other farm
information. This water use data can be collected on a voluntary
basis as opposed to regulatory. |
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Support Southeastern Crescent for Economic Development
The NC Agribusiness Council supports establishing an area for
southeastern states that would provide federal support for economic
development. |
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Support Conservation Funding
The NC Agribusiness Council supports funding for conservation of
farmland. The Council further supports that farmers of both livestock
and row crops receive resource funding to cover expenses that have
been legislated. Farmers also should receive services that assist in the
implementation rather than regulations with no means to implement. |
