United States-Court Ruling good for meat industry.

UNITED STATES-COURT RULING IN PORK CASE GOOD FOR THE INDUSTRY.

The Illinois Pork Producers Association (IPPA) is applauding a decision by a jury in Clay county ruling in favor of Bible Pork, a swine farm located near Louisville, Ill. A lawsuit brought forward by 15 neighbors claimed that the state of the art swine farm was a "nuisance" under Illinois law due to alleged odor.

"This ruling is great news for the livestock industry and all of agriculture," said Phil Borgic, a pork producer from Nokomis and current President of IPPA. "Many times, as in this case, livestock operations are wrongfully attacked by people with misinformation and emotional rhetoric. This jury proved that in the end facts will prevail. We believe that this ruling will set precedent for future livestock related cases."

The ruling is a significant victory for Illinois livestock farmers that have operated their farms in good faith under the Illinois Livestock Facilities Management Act (LMFA). In addition, this ruling also reinforces the clear protections provided under the LMFA for both livestock farmers and their rural neighbors. The case has drawn much attention from across Illinois and the nation.

"We are pleased that the jury’s decision reiterated the importance of livestock production to rural communities in Illinois and recognized the best management practices that pork producers, such as the Bibles, have taken to be good neighbors and stewards of the environment," said Borgic.

"In these tough economic times for our country, pork producers play a pivotal role in providing a safe, quality, affordable protein source for many Americans. As pork producers we take the responsibility of helping feed this country and others around the world seriously. We do this with pride, while caring for our animals, the environment, and our communities," said Borgic.