FORTY YEARS AGO, STATE LEGISLATURES SQUARED UP AGAINST A PROBLEM THAT CONTINUES TO TROUBLE AGRICULTURETODAY. FARMS FACED ECONOMIC AND OPERATIONAL CONSTRAINTS AS A RESULT OF URBAN SPRAWL. TO TRY TO STEMTHE TIDE OF FARMER LOSS, LEGISLATURES PASSED PRESERVATION AND RIGHT-TO-FARM LAWS, INTENDED TOPROVIDE ADDITIONAL PROTECTIONS FOR AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS FACED WITH NUISANCE LAWSUITS. SINCE THEN,AMENDMENTS AND CONSTITUTIONAL PROPOSITIONS HAVE CHANGED THE CONTENT OF SUCH LAWS, WHICH EXIST INALL FIFTY STATES. STILL, THEIR EFFICACY REMAINS AN OPEN QUESTION, AS THE NUMBER OF U.S. FARMS AND ACRESIN FARMLAND CONTINUES TO DECLINE.DESPITE THE CENTRAL ROLE THAT THE LAW PLAYS IN AGRICULTURAL MARKETS, THERE EXISTS NO COMPREHENSIVESTUDY OF THE IMPACTS OF RIGHT-TO-FARM OR PRESERVATION LAWS ON SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED FARMERS. INADDITION, MEMBERS OF OUR ADVISORY BOARD HAVE VOICED THE CONCERN THAT FARMERS LARGELY DO NOT KNOWTHAT THESE LAWS EXIST. FURTHER, THOSE SMALL AND MID-SIZED FARMERS THAT ARE AWARE OFTHE STATUTESSUSPECT THAT THEY REDUCE THEIR ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES. YET THERE IS NO DEFINITIVE RESEARCH TO LOOK TOFOR GUIDANCE, A GAP OUR PROJECT AIMS TO REMEDY. WE ASK, HOW DO CURRENT RIGHT-TO-FARM LAWS IMPACTTHE VIABILITY OF AMERICA'S SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED FARMS? AND FURTHER, WHAT IS THE BEST STATUTORYLANGUAGE TO SUPPORT SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED FARMS?