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Suit to block information release is dismissed

The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) is disappointed over the dismissal of its lawsuit to block EPA from releasing personal information of livestock and poultry farmers.

The information, released by the EPA in response to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, includes names, addresses, GPS locations and telephone numbers.  The court says the farmer’s personal information can be found on the Internet so there’s no injury from the EPA’s distribution of the information.

“Farmers, ranchers and citizens in general should be concerned about the court’s disregard for individual privacy,” said Bob Stallman, president of the AFBF, in a prepared statement Wednesday.  “This court seems to believe that the Internet age has eliminated the individual’s interest in controlling the distribution of his or her personal information. We strongly disagree.”

Before the suit was filed, the EPA released personal information of farmers from 29 states.  The suit was filed to block disclosures in other states.

AFBF and the National Pork Producers Council, co-plaintiffs in the suit, have 60 days to appeal.