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July 1, 2022Des Moines, Iowa |  By: AP

Iowa court reverses precedent on Iowa pig farm lawsuits

piggies

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - The Iowa Supreme Court has reversed a longstanding precedent that allowed landowners to sue for damages when a neighboring hog farm causes water pollution or odor problems that affect quality of life.

A majority of the court concluded Thursday that a 2004 decision was wrong. The reversal is a significant blow to property owners who live in rural areas who want to take legal action over expanding hog farms.

It's a victory for the agriculture industry in Iowa because it strengthens the immunity law protecting livestock farmers from nuisance lawsuits. Iowa is the nation's leading pork producer with 23 million pigs.