Agriculture; nutrient management plans; compliance, violation of Registered Poultry Feeding Operations Act; enforcement jurisdiction; nuisance liability; emergency.

HB 4118, known as the Farmer Protection Act, aims to clarify and strengthen protections for poultry farmers in Oklahoma by establishing the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry as the sole agency responsible for enforcing the Registered Poultry Feeding Operations Act. The bill creates a legal presumption that farmers who follow their approved Nutrient Management Plans are shielded from private lawsuits and nuisance liability claims, provided they adhere to state rules on waste storage and land application. It mandates that these management plans be renewed every six years and requires detailed records of waste removal and application to ensure environmental safety. Additionally, the legislation includes provisions allowing for emergency exceptions to storage rules when necessary to meet requirements set by poultry integrators.