a. The retention of agricultural activities would serve the best interest of all citizens of this State by insuring the numerous social, economic and environmental benefits which accrue from one of the largest industries in the Garden State;

b. Several factors have combined to create a situation wherein the regulations of various State agencies and the ordinances of individual municipalities may unnecessarily constrain essential farm practices;

c. It is necessary to establish a systematic and continuing effort to examine the effect of governmental regulation on the agricultural industry;

d. All State departments and agencies thereof should encourage the maintenance of agricultural production and a positive agricultural business climate;

e. It is the express intention of this act to establish as the policy of this State the protection of commercial farm operations from nuisance action, where recognized methods and techniques of agricultural production are applied, while, at the same time, acknowledging the need to provide a proper balance among the varied and sometimes conflicting interests of all lawful activities in New Jersey.

L.1983, c. 31, s. 2, eff. Jan. 26, 1983.