Many farms are located in close proximity to residential areas. Many of these neighbors may know little about farm operations and have often moved out to these suburban areas with high expectations for their quality of life. As a result, conflicts may result from odors, noise, flies, traffic, or manure/pesticide spills. In anticipation of such situations, it is important for farmers to understand their rights and obligations. It is also important for the individual farmer or local farm associations to be a visible presence in community affairs.
Meeting your regulatory obligations is a first, important step. However, good neighbor relations will often require that you go above and beyond those requirements. It is easy for someone to act impulsively or deal harshly with people they do not know if they perceive that an action is impacting their quality of life or property value. Making an effort to maintain a community presence, taking the time to greet new neighbors, and notifying neighbors of activities that they may find annoying, such as manure spreading or pesticide applications, will reduce the neighbor conflicts that can be very disruptive to your operation and personally upsetting. When a complaint is received, it is important to deal with the situation as quickly and professionally as possible.
Many states have Right to Farm legislation that establishes as state policy 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 (excerpted from the New Jersey Right to Farm Act, as amended by P.L. 1998, c.48). These laws provide procedures for farmer protection in response to complaints arising from the application of these recognized agricultural methods and techniques. Environmental and related regulations affecting farming operations can be promulgated at the federal, state, and local levels of government. It is the obligation of farmers to become knowledgeable about the specific regulations relevant to their operations.
Available resources include state Right to Farm or similar programs, such as arbitration services, state farm bureaus, Cooperative Extension county agricultural agents, and county Soil and Water Conservation District offices.
Author: Jeff Potent, USEPA Region 2/Land Grant University Liaison
