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The Rural Voice, 1999-12, Page 44a r g News annually. It would require 200 acres, half planted in corn, half in soybeans, with manure spread only every second year, to handle the manure from the operation, Fraser said. Fraser also cautioned farmers about the Farming and Food Production Protection Act. "This is not a 'right to farm' act with the connotation that 'I was here first and I have the right to do whatever I want'." The bill protects you from nuisance complaints about normal farming practices. But, Fraser said, "there are people out there who just ask for problems" because of the way they operate their farms. There are seven nuisances most commonly associated with farms: noise, odour, dust, light, smoke. vibration and flies. Complaints against poultry operations generally are for the noise of ventilation equipment, especially for tulinel ventilation, odours and dust from manure piles, smells from inefficient incinerators used in disposing dead birds, carcasses of uncomposted dead birds that are spread in manure and noise from trucks. What is a "normal" farming practice changes with time, Fraser said. At one time, for instance, it was normal for dairy farmers to allow runoff from cleaning milking equipment to go into ditches. There are things that farmers accept as "normal" farming practices that are becoming "unnormal", he said. It's becoming less normal for cows to be pastured. It's becoming less normal to have piles of manure that are never moved, as opposed to manure piled temporarily until it is spread on fields. Poultry producers who burn dead birds in open piles are also becoming unacceptable, he said. Technically your incinerator has to meet the same standards as a major incineration plant, he said. It's becoming unacceptable for dead birds to be end up in a field or elsewhere because of incomplete composting, he said. The dead birds cause problems with such predators as coyotes. Instead, store dead birds in a freezer until there are enough for you to bring in a dead stock removal.° May everyone everywhere share in the spirit and splendor 4 �ouNo SQA Marvin L. Smith B.Sc.F. (Forestry), R.P.F. Farm Woodland Specialist 765 John St. West Listowel, Ontario N4W 1B6 Telephone: (519) 291-2236 Providing advice and assistance with: • impartial advice/assistance in selling timber, including selection of trees and marking • reforestation of erodible or idle land • follow-up tending of young plantations • windbreak planning and establishment • woodlot management planning • diagnosis of insect and disease problems • conducting educational programs in woodlot management • any other woodland or tree concerns .r With Wwun Wato Wishing you and your family peace, health, happiness &Jo JBDO BDO Dunwoody, LLP Chartered Accountants and Consultants Hanover Walkerton Mount Forest Port Elgin Wingham Kincardine 364-3790 881-1211 323-2351 832-2049 357.3231 396-3425 DECEMBER 1999 41