Decades ago, hog farmers described the pungent aroma of hog manure as the smell of money. Now, the North Carolina House has passed a bill that could save them money if they are sued for creating a nuisance due to the smell of animal waste, says the Associated Press.
Legislators passed the bill after amending it to specify that if it becomes law, it will not apply to any pending cases. The bill, now in the state Senate, would limit damages to the lost rental or property value and could not exceed the market value of the property.
Trials could begin as early as this summer in federal lawsuits that complain of flies and noxious odors from North Carolina farms that produce hogs under contract for Smithfield Foods. North Carolina is one of the largest hog-producing states in the nation.