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County regulation litigation impacting ag could be in the MO Supreme Court soon

The executive director of the Missouri Pork Association says county led lawsuits that began as an attempt to regulate swine farms at the local level is likely on its way to the Missouri Supreme Court.

Don Nikodim tells Brownfield Missouri Pork is involved in the litigation against Cooper and Cole Counties and their fight against Senate Bill 391 which prevents county ordinances from being more stringent than state regulations.

“That goes back to regulating what counties can and can’t do in terms of implementing rules and regulations without any scientific basis,” Nikodim said.

Cole County Circuit Judge Daniel Green struck down the case last year. But Nikodim said the group’s fight isn’t over.

“The other side decided to appeal,” he said. “So, we’ll be back in the court and that’ll probably going to the Missouri Supreme Court. Hopefully, we’ll get the final ruling there that’s going to positive for producers out here in the countryside.”

Brownfield interviewed Nikodim at the Missouri Pork Expo in Osage Beach Monday.