Farming is not just an economic activity in Delaware. It’s part of our heritage.

December 17, 2026

State Senator Brian Pettyjohn

Sen. Brian Pettyjohn

Farming is not just an economic activity in Delaware. It’s part of our heritage. It’s integral to who we are as a state, and it’s something Delaware has long chosen to protect.

Recently, a letter sent to a farmer in southeastern Sussex County has circulated on social media. The letter came from a homeowner association concerned about corn husks from a harvest blowing across a road and into nearby yards and stormwater ponds. The association ultimately demanded that the farmer install fencing to prevent debris from leaving the farm.

What that letter leaves out is important.

The land in question has been actively farmed for well over a century and is being operated in accordance with accepted modern agricultural practices. The farm didn’t move next to the subdivision—the subdivision moved next to the farm.

Unfortunately, this isn’t an isolated incident. I’m reminded of an email I received back in October 2020 from a resident complaining about a single harvest that occurred around 2:00 a.m. The writer even questioned whether the farmer was suffering from a manic episode.

That kind of complaint reflects a growing disconnect.

Delaware farmland existed long before many of today’s subdivisions. That’s why Delaware’s Right-to-Farm law protects agricultural operations from nuisance claims once they’ve been in operation for more than one year, as long as they’re not negligently run. Farming is seasonal, weather-dependent, and often dictated by narrow windows farmers don’t control.

While farmers may ultimately be protected by law, that doesn’t mean they aren’t inconvenienced—or burdened—by having to respond to complaints from individuals or organizations that don’t understand Delaware law or respect the work that goes into farming.

Let me be clear: I have protected Delaware agriculture, and I will continue to protect farming in this state. That means standing with the men and women who work the land—not second-guessing them from behind HOA letterhead.

And for those who disagree, here’s a simple reminder: the farmer you’re complaining about is the same person who puts food on your dinner table. If there are no farms, there is no food.

If we’re going to live in an agricultural state, we need to be willing to live with agriculture.