Landmark Agriculture Bill Now Law in Virginiaselfnews Post In 2012, Virginia officials of Fauquier County threatened Martha Boneta with $15,000 per-day fines for hosting a birthday party for eight 10-year-old girls without a permit, and for advertising pumpkin carvings. That fine eventually reached $2 million. Seeing the countys action against Boneta as a brazen effort to drive her off her land, Virginians from all walks of life rallied to her defense. Supporters gathered in Warrenton, the county seat, for a peaceful pitchfork protest to vent their anger over what an out-of-control local government had done to a law-abiding citizen. The bill, HB 268, became law in Virginia yesterday, protecting certain activities at agricultural operations from local regulation. One of the first bills signed into law by Governor Terry McAuliffe, the non-partisan legislation became statewide law at the urging of grassroots organizations and individuals. The bill becoming law marks the latest chapter in a controversy that attracted nationwide attention in 2012 when the Fauquier County Board of Supervisors forced family farmer Martha Boneta to cease selling produce from her own 64-acre farm. No longer allowed to sell the vegetables she had harvested, Boneta donated the food to local charities rather than let it go to waste. In the 2013 session of the General Assembly, Rep. Scott Lingamfelter (R-Prince William) led an effort to undo the injustice inflicted on Boneta, and to protect other farmers from similar abuse, by strengthening Virginias Right to Farm Act. What became known as the Boneta Bill passed the House by an overwhelming margin but it was killed by a Senate committee. Undeterred, Boneta and her supporters came back to the General Assembly in 2014 winning wide bipartisan approval for legislation protecting the rights of family farmers. The bill signed by Gov. McAuliffe grew out of legislation developed by Rep. Bobby Orrick (R-Thornburg) and Sen. Richard Stuart (R-Montross) and supported by, among others, Sen. Chap Petersen (D-Fairfax). Backed by the Virginia Farm Bureau, the new law protects customary activities at agricultural operations from local bans in the absence of substantial impacts on public welfare. It also prohibits localities from requiring a special-use permit for a host of farm-related activities that are specified in the bill. Boneta said: FTCLDF reports that to celebrate the new agricultural law, a flag is flying today over the US Capitol in honor of Virginias farm freedom legislation. Here is a January 2014 interview with Boneta and Fox News. While the camera views emphasize Tea Party signs, FTCLDF supporters come from many walks of life. See the original press release and events details: The Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund defends the rights and broadens the freedoms of family farms and artisan food producers while protecting consumer access to raw milk and nutrient-dense foods. Those concerned can support the FTCLDF, a U.S. based 501(c)(4) nonprofit, by joining or donating online at www.farmtoconsumer.org or by calling 703-208-FARM (3276). About Marthas Farm Paris Barns is a historic working farm in Paris, Virginia offering farm fresh seasonal organic vegetables, fresh and dried herbs, honey and honey bee products, eggs (chicken, duck, turkey and emu), hand-made soaps and alpaca, llama and sheeps wool crafts and more. 