The
State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC),
which administers New Jersey's Right to Farm Program,
is looking for individuals interested in learning
mediation skills and techniques to help resolve
farming-related disputes. Under the Right to Farm
Act, farm owners and operators are protected from
restrictive municipal ordinances and public and
private nuisance actions, provided that they operate
responsibly in accordance with state guidelines
and meet certain other criteria. In the event of
disputes, formal complaints must be filed with
the appropriate County Agriculture Development
Board or the SADC before any court actions can
be taken. Mediation will be used as a first attempt
to resolve conflicts as early as possible, before
the formal complaint process is initiated. The
SADC will hold mediation training in early spring.
Interested candidates should have the ability to
communicate, listen, comprehend and remain neutral.
They also should be able to define and clarify
issues and suggest resolutions, as well as have
some practical experience in the agricultural field.
The SADC will assemble teams of mediators from
different regions of the state. Mediators will
receive compensation toward their expenses. Anyone
interested in being considered for mediation training
should contact the SADC's Right to Farm Program
at (609) 984-2504.
|