Understanding Agricultural Liability: Maryland's Right-to-Farm Law Can Limit Liability for Maryland Farmers and Commercial Fishing and Seafood Operators

Abstract

Many agricultural areas in Maryland have seen individuals moving in with no farm backgrounds and little understanding of farm operations. Commercial fishing and seafood operations in Maryland have had the same experience. Once there, the inexperienced residents find noises, insects, farm equipment on the roads, smells, and other normal characteristics of agricultural and commercial seafood life unexpected and objectionable, and then they complain. In response, Maryland introduced a Right-to-Farm (RTF) law in 1981. Recently, the state updated the state’s right-to-farm (RTF) law to shield qualifying agricultural, commercial fishing and seafood operations from nuisance suits. This article highlights how Maryland's law operates.