Source: Susan Kelly, MEATINGPLACE, 5/2/18



Three meat industry groups and the American Farm Bureau Federation are criticizing last week’s $50 million jury award to neighbors of a hog operation that contracts with Smithfield Foods’ Murphy-Brown LLC unit, calling the verdict “a blatant assault on animal agriculture and on rural America.“

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The joint statement from the National Pork Producers Council, National Turkey Federation, North American Meat Institute and the farm bureau, released today, warned that the decision, if replicated, will raise the price of food for consumers and hurt farmers at a time when they are adopting technology to increase sustainability.

The verdict sets “a dangerous precedent that already is being used in other cases,” the groups said.

“The U.S. animal agriculture industry agrees with Agriculture Secretary Perdue’s characterization of the verdict as 'despicable’ and with his opinion that it should be overturned. This miscarriage of justice must be rectified to ensure that the anti-agriculture advocates can’t continue to attack America’s farmers and ranchers,” read the statement.

USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue was quoted in the media earlier this week as calling the verdict in North Carolina “despicable,” adding that the award should be overturned.

Plaintiffs in the case had complained of intense odors, noise and other problems. Smithfield has said it plans to appeal the decision.

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