The Rural Voice, 1980-09, Page 23VOICE OF A FARMER
Being there first
isn't good enough
• BY ADRIAN VOS
What can be done about the new attack on the presence of
subdivisions within smelling distance of livestock barns?
The Ontario Federation of Agriculture is, in cooperation with
commodity boards, trying to find a solution to the problems
encountered by some farmers.
Some time ago the OFA decided to try to find a replacement
for the agricultural Code of Practice, and develop a Code of
Rights.
It is not good enough for farmers to say simply: "We were
there first". We can all sympathize with someone not familiar
with the drawbacks of country life who has bought a house in
summer or winter time. Then, in spring or fall, his home is
engulfed in the smell of liquid manure for a week or more, or
seems to shake with the banshee sound of a grain dryer 24 hours
a day.
Of course, he has only himself to blame for not investigating
more fully. Or he can more justifiably blame the realtor who sold
him the property for not informing him of the nuisance.
PIG FARM EN TOWN
At the moment there is a case in a small village close to
Toronto where a pig farm is located right in town. The village is
rapidly becoming a dormitory community for the city. The farmer
will have to move for his operation, which has been in that place
for generations, is a nuisance to many.
We should ask the question: "Is it really justified that this one
business can hold up the further development of a community?"
Our provincial government, which is responsible for land use,
must come to grips with the problem. As farmers we should be
right in there with a proposal for a new act.
Such an act could make a realtor responsible for informing his
clients of potential problems. It could zone agricultural land as
such, thereby making the buyer responsible. It could make
provisions that say, if the public well being mandates the moving
of farm buildings or whole farms, the farmer will be fully
compensated by the public, including compensation for the loss
of community ties.
It could include many more things which farmers should bring
to the attention of the OFA to consider including in any new
package.
A side effect of such protection would be that severances of
lots unsuitable for farming could be approved without future
problems for the farmer. Any buyer of such a lot would
automatically lose all rights of complaint against the
neighbouring farm, unless he can prove a deliberate provocation
on the part of the farmer.
That farmers' concerns are not without grounds has been
shown both in Canada and in the USA. South of the border even
a few large corporate feedlots have been forced to close when a
new subdivision was built downwind from the operation.
If the giants with banks of lawyers and seemingly unlimited
amounts of money lose these battles, all farmers will be well
advised to support the OFA and marketing boards and other
associations, in coming up with a counter proposal.
HOEGY
FARM SUPPLY LTD.
Brodhagen, Ontario
Tel. 345-2941
After hours 345-2243
*BARN WASHING
AND DISINFECTING
Spraying with CARBOLA
whitens and disinfects as it dries
*CATTLE SPRAYING
For Lice and
warble control.
•Seaforth
•Brodhagen
*Dublin
•Mitchell
THE RURAL VOICE/SEPTEMBER 1980 PG. 21