A Clay County jury recently ruled in favor of Bible Pork, a swine farm near Louisville. The lawsuit was brought by 15 neighbors who claimed the farm's odor was a nuisance under Illinois law.

Illinois Pork Producers Association president Phil Borgic applauded the jury's decision.

"This ruling is great news for the livestock industry and all of agriculture," adds Borgic, a pork producer from Nokomis. "Many times, as in this case, livestock operations are wrongfully attacked by people with misinformation and emotional rhetoric. This jury proved in the end facts will prevail. We believe this ruling will set precedent for future livestock related cases."

The ruling is a significant victory for Illinois livestock farmers who have operated their farms in good faith under the Illinois Livestock Facilities Management Act. In addition, this ruling also reinforces the clear protections provided under the LMFA for both livestock farmers and their rural neighbors.

"In these tough economic times for our country, pork producers play a pivotal role in providing a safe, quality, affordable protein source for many Americans," adds Borgic. "As pork producers we take the responsibility of helping feed this country and others around the world seriously. We do this with pride, while caring for our animals, the environment, and our communities."