Source: MEATINGPLACE, 9/16/2011

Perdue Farms Inc. has teamed with two local farm groups to support a Maryland poultry farm defending itself again a lawsuit brought by an environmental group.

The Wicomico County Young Farmers and Ranchers, the Maryland Farm Bureau and Perdue have launched www.SaveFarmFamilies.org to raise money for the legal defense of Alan and Kristen Hudson, operators of Hudson Farm. The Berlin, Md., farm is a contract grower for Perdue.

The Waterkeepers Alliance and other environmental groups sued Hudson Farm and Perdue Farms in March 2010, claiming runoff from the farm was polluting the Chesapeake Bay watershed in violation of the Clean Water Act. 

“SaveFarmFamilies.org is concerned because, if successful, the Waterkeepers’ bankruptcy-by-litigation tactic could be a damaging precedent for America’s family farmers, who could be dragged into court just for following every-day farming practices,” the group said in a news release.

A trial date for the case is set for March 2012.

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