North Carolina Farm Act of 2018 (SB 711)

• Creates Fruit and Vegetable Handlers Registration Act requiring handlers to register with Department of Agriculture and provide business information; registration is free and information held confidential, with exemptions for farmers, certain cash-paying buyers, restaurants, and retailers.

• Amends North Carolina Right to Farm law to require nuisance actions against farms to be filed within one year of operation establishment and limited to properties within one-half mile; eliminates punitive damages unless operation has prior criminal conviction or environmental violation within three years.

• Mandates all counties require land records to include notice that property is located within one-half mile of qualifying farms or within voluntary agricultural district, protecting farmers from nuisance liability from subsequent property buyers.

• Directs Department of Agriculture to develop enforcement plan to prevent plant-based products from being mislabeled as milk, with implementation required 90 days after effective date and labeling compliance within six months.

• Permits dispensing of raw milk and raw milk products to independent or partial owners of lactating animals for personal consumption without meeting Grade A pasteurization requirements, effective October 1, 2018.