The Right to Farm Program is designed to work with and help educate farmers, residents, and municipalities about the Right to Farm Act, the Act's formal conflict resolution process, and additional strategies for resolving agricultural conflicts and maintaining a positive agricultural business environment.

The Right to Farm Act was passed by the NJ Legislature in 1983 and amended in 1998. The Act protects responsible commercial farmers from public and private nuisance actions and unduly restrictive municipal regulations.

In the event of a dispute, an individual or municipality aggrieved by the operation of a commercial farm is required to file a formal complaint with the appropriate County Agriculture Development Board (CADB), or the State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC) in counties where no CADBs exist, prior to filing action in court.

The Right to Farm Program has established a formal conflict resolution process to help farmers, neighbors, and municipalities resolve such disputes.

Parties involved in a conflict resolution matter may also take advantage of the Agricultural Mediation Program. This program offers a more informal approach to resolving conflicts. The mediation process is voluntary, involves a trained and impartial mediator, and typically consists of one or two short mediation sessions. Because the mediator has no decision making authority in this program, successful mediation is based on the voluntary participation and cooperation of all parties.

The SADC manages the Right to Farm Program in partnership with New Jersey's eighteen CADBs.

For more information

State Agriculture Development Committee

County Agriculture Development Boards

Right to Farm Program Rules