A state House proposal to limit the liability of farmers hosting so-called “agritainment” on their property has run into some resistance.
The latest plan would limit the kind of lawsuits that can be filed against owners of agritourism attractions like hayrides, farm tours and pick-your-own-crop operations — but only if those attractions charge zero fees or ticket prices.
Pennsylvania Farm Bureau spokesman Mark O’Neill said the amendment, narrowly adopted on the House floor, defeats the purpose of the legislation.
"The whole idea of the bill is to have liability protection for farmers who operate agritourism, and agritourism enterprises generally charge an admission fee because the farmers have put these things in place to begin with in order to help generate more income to the farm so that they continue all forms of farming in the future," O’Neill said.
O’Neill said the original intent of the proposal was to keep insurance rates down for farmers who are trying to make their land more profitable.
The legislation has yet to pass the full House.
O’Neill said he hopes it does pass — and that the Senate undoes the latest amendment.
