Property rights and rural justice: A study of U.S. right-to-farm laws

Property rights remain a centerpiece of the American experience, perhaps particularly so for those who live in rural America. Right-to-Farm laws, which exist in every state, substantially alter the meaning of property rights by constraining the capacity of owners to enjoy their property according to values such as health, home, environment, and even family farms (as traditionally conceived). Our article most notably finds that these laws tend to constrain local governance; disadvantage multi-generational farms and property holders wedded to the sustenance of a specific place; advantage production and profit oriented companies; provide no explicit protection for family farmers; and protect any owner: international, corporate or otherwise. For more details, check out our article recently published in the Journal of Rural Studies.