ANNAPOLIS, MD (July 29, 2008) - Farmers and others in the agricultural community who may be embroiled in nagging disputes with family members, neighbors, government agencies, or even lenders can get a fresh start by trying mediation through the Maryland Agricultural Conflict Resolution Service (Maryland ACReS). Maryland ACReS is a quick, confidential, no- or low-cost service offered by the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) and is available to Marylanders to help resolve agricultural related disputes before they end up in court.

"There are no winners in agriculture when a disagreement goes to court," said Agriculture Secretary Roger Richardson. The time and cost associated with lawsuits and litigation strain everyone's resources and often result in outcomes that satisfy no one. We hope farm operators and their non-farm/off-farm neighbors will try our mediation service before a situation becomes unbearable or goes to court."

MDA has provided U.S. Department of Agriculture-certified mediation services for nine years, through a program previously called Farm Sense, which is now known as Maryland ACReS. Mediation is a voluntary, confidential process in which a neutral third party (the mediator) assists farmers, agricultural lenders, agencies, families and citizens to resolve disputes in a non-adversarial setting outside the traditional legal and regulatory process. Mediation is based on the voluntary cooperation and participation of all the involved parties. Working through the process, there is no finding of right or wrong and the mediator has no power to impose a solution. Maryland ACReS has a roster of more than 20 skilled mediators trained to serve as non-adversarial, neutral, third parties to help resolve disputes. An initial consultation with program staff and initial mediation session is free of charge. If additional mediations sessions are needed, costs are shared by the parties, with full or partial waivers of fees based on income.

Maryland House Bill 396 passed in December 2006 and requires by law that an individual who wishes to bring action against an agricultural operation in any court to first: file a complaint with a local agency authorized to hear such complaints, if one exists; and obtain a decision or recommendation on the complaint from the local agency.

If there is no local agency, the individual may not bring the nuisance action to court until: the individual refers the complaint to the Maryland ACReS in MDA and the program certifies that mediation has been concluded.

For more information about Maryland ACReS or to request mediation services, log on to www.marylandacrs.org or contact Eddie Johnson at 410-841-5778 or johnsone (at) mda.state.md.us.