February 4 , 2008

ISSUE 1204

PASCO COUNTY CONSIDERS BAN ON PROPANE CANNONS

The Pasco County Citizens Ordinance Review Committee (CORC) heard public testimony Jan. 30 regarding a proposed ordinance to ban the use of propane noise cannons on certain agricultural lands. The cannons, periodically used by blueberry growers to protect their crops from voracious cedar waxwings, are a considerable annoyance to nearby residents who are requesting the ban.

During previous meetings, FFVA has advised the county’s legal staff of potential conflicts with state laws, and the proposed ordinance was carefully crafted to avoid direct conflict. According to Alan Peirce, FFVA’s manager of Regulatory Affairs, determining if the language is consistent with the Right to Farm Act and the Agricultural Lands and Practices Act is a matter of legal interpretation, but it’s obvious that Pasco County is making every effort to avoid a legal challenge by the affected growers.

After considerable public testimony, the CORC directed county staff to rewrite the draft ordinance in a manner that would limit the sound level of the propane cannons on affected farms rather than completely ban the use of this device. A revised ordinance will be brought back to the CORC for approval before being considered by the County Commission.

For further information, please contact the FFVA Government Affairs Office at (850) 521-0455.