Managing Good Farm-Neighbor-Relations: An
Essential Component of Manure Management

Barbara C. Bellows
Cornell Cooperative Extension
Cornell University Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering

Carl Crispell
Central Southern Tier Dairy, Field Crops Program, Cornell Cooperative Extension

Manure management is increasingly becoming a critical concern within farm management decision making. Managing manure according to a nutrient management plan can reduce fertilizer expenses and enhance soil quality while mitigating potential risks to water quality. Increasingly, however, farmers are being forced to consider social as well as environmental and production concerns in developing their manure management plans.

Non-farm community members, often several generations removed from farming, are buying former farms and moving into the country, seeking pastoral views and fresh air. At the same time, animal agriculture operations are expanding, requiring the installation of manure storage facilities and the application of manure on fields distant from the animal housing facilities. The concurrent urbanization of rural areas and consolidation of livestock farms can result in strained relationships between farm and non-farm neighbors. Farm outreach activities to develop and maintaining good farm-neighbor relationships may circumvent potential regulatory or legal actions against the farm from impacted neighbors. Government and community organizations can help facilitate good farm-neighbor relationships. A "First Responder Network" provides a referral system among agencies who receive and respond to calls from community members concerned about the potential environmental impacts from agricultural practices. Community mediation centers can serve as forums to mediate conflicts between neighbors and to provide a less expensive and less contentious alternative to litigation.

Community concerns about odors and water quality impacts are increasingly affecting how manure can be managed on a farm. In response to the EPA Clean Water Act, New York State is developing a general State Pollution Discharge Elimination System (SPDES) permit for Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs). These permits will require farms with over 1000 animal units to implement approved nutrient management plans and to have storage facilities for all concentrated sources of nutrients including manure, barnyard runoff, rnilkhouse wastes, and silage leachate (Wright, 1997). While CAFO permits will be mandatory for all farms having over 1000 animal units and for farms with more than 350 animal units and the potential to discharge, public concerns may require all livestock farms to implement manure and farm waste management practices.

Many dairy farmers are sensitive to community perceptions of their management practices. Preliminary results from a recent survey of almost 500 dairy farmers across New York State indicate that 15% of the farmers had received complaints about odors and 9.6% had received complaints about roadway spills during the last five years (Poe et al, 1997; Wright et al, 1998). Despite the relatively few farmers reporting complaints, over 60% felt it was somewhat to very important to modify timing and location of manure spreading activities to maintain good neighbor relations. Over 13% of the farmers said they have either quit spreading manure on weekends or discontinued spreading manure on some fields in response to neighbor concerns. Other farmers noted that they try to spread manure on days when rainfall will dissipate the odors or that they have started using different equipment or management practices to decrease odor or leaching potential from manure management activities. Several farmers, however, noted that low milk prices and the marginal profitability of farming inhibits them from implementing environmentally sound manure management practices.

Two farmers from the Southern Tier Region of New York can serve as case studies illustrating the potential benefits from establishing good farm-neighbor-relationships and the problems which may ensue if developing these interactions is not provided priority concern.

The first farmer, Jim T. recently sold his dairy operation and converted his barn to continuously raise up to 1000 finishing hogs. To effectively use manure from the hog operation for crop production and in response to neighbors' concerns, Jim T. applies manure according to a certified nutrient management plan. He also purchased an injector manure spreader to decrease the odors from land application of manure. Based on his interactions with agricultural agents and Department of Environmental Conservation personnel, Jim T. feels that he is following industry and legal guidelines for safe and effective manure management.

Several neighbors, however, are concerned about the manure management practices on this farm and have instituted law suits against Jim T. They claim that the smell from the farm is decreasing the value of their property and that their wells are contaminated with nitrates from the farm. Jim T. is resentful of his neighbors' complaints. He stresses, "People who eat should leave agriculture alone." "I have tried to work with my neighbors," he claims. "I send them letters each year letting them know when I am going to spread manure. But, if they plan an event at their home for during that time, that is their problem. I cannot continuously reschedule to suit their whims." As a result of the persistence of the complaints and the lawsuits, Jim T. is reconsidering his plans for expanding his hog operation.

The second farmer, Keith K. and his family have been dairy farming on the same land since the 1930s. Starting out with five cows to supply milk for the family and neighbors, the farm is in the process of expanding to 250 milking cows this year. The K's have installed a manure storage system in order to use manure more effectively as a fertilizer. "Each year we save at least $20,000 on our fertilizer costs," Keith noted. "But," he added, "the environmental and economic benefits of a manure storage facility are only as good as the manager." The use of manure as a nutrient source on the farm has not been without incident. The K's own and rent cropland within a four mile radius of their farm. Last year one of Keith's sons was transporting the manure spreader on the road heading to one of the outlying fields. Accidentally, he tripped the manure spreader valve and over 100 gallons of manure dumped onto the road before he re-engaged the valve. He immediately called his brothers who came with buckets and shovels to clean up the mess on the road. Several of the neighbors are non-farmers. The K's called these neighbors to inform them of the spill and to apologize for any inconvenience. The neighbors told them not to worry. They knew that the K's were conscientious farmers. They were also grateful for the assistance they received from the K's when they needed to have a tree cut down or car pulled out of a snow bank.

These case studies illustrate the importance of the guidelines Hilchey and Leonard (1995) recommended for farmers wanting to develop better farm-neighbor relationships. Their guidelines encourage farmers to:

1. Implement responsible and defensible farm management practices,
2. Get involved in the community, and
3. Conduct activities, which promote the benefits of the farm to neighbors and to the community at large.

While both Jim T. and Keith K. made efforts to implement responsible farm management practices, Jim T. did not reach out to other community members while Keith K. had long-standing good relationships developed with his neighbors.

Farmers may implement a variety of outreach efforts to their enhance the perception of their farm among their neighbors and the larger community. These interactions may include conducting farm tours, providing neighbors with sample farm products, assisting neighbors to mow brush in the summer or plow snow in the winter, and providing access to areas of the farm for recreational activities or for wildlife. Farmers may also send neighbors newsletters describing their fanning operations and providing time schedules for farm activities, including scheduled dates for manure applications. If neighbors have special events occurring at their homes on certain dates, farmers may reschedule their manure applications to avoid that date.

Strained farm-neighbor relations may result from lack of awareness about farming practices or confusion regarding where to obtain information or assistance. Farm neighbors concerned about environmental impacts of agricultural practices often do not know whom to contact regarding their concerns. They may contact several agencies, each agency referring them to another agency until they reach someone who can provide them with some information and assistance. To decrease the frustration experienced by concerned citizens, agencies in Cayuga County, New York developed a "First Responder Network" (Bellows et al., 1998).

A First Responder Network is a chain of referrals among agencies and organizations, which receive telephone calls from concerned citizens regarding farming practices. The advantages of a First Responder Network go beyond enhancing farm-neighbor understanding. This network may also enhance the credibility and visibility of agricultural and environmental agencies and facilitate the development of improved working relationships among agencies.

Ideally, the First Responder Network is initiated through a multi-agency committee. In New York, the Water Quality Coordinating Committee (WQCC) serves as this multi-agency committee. The WQCC is a county-based working group composed of representatives from agricultural agencies, the Department of Environmental Conservation, planning boards, environmental organizations, and farmers' organizations. In other states, the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) Working Group may be the appropriate organization to initiate the First Responder Network.

The multi-agency committee develops a preliminary list of public concerns regarding agricultural activities. Additional agencies, which may receive calls or have the expertise to respond to calls from concerned citizens are invited to join the network. These agencies may include the County Sheriff, the Emergency 911 Coordinator, the Department of Transportation, or the County Highway Superintendent. In addition, agencies, which have an interest in maintaining the vitality of farming or the quality of the environment in the county, are invited into the network. These agencies may include farm commodity organizations, agricultural consultants, bankers, real estate agents, and public officials.

Once all appropriate agencies are identified, First Responder Network representatives meet to develop a First Response Matrix. The matrix links agencies which agree to serve as a first responder with each of the identified public concerns. For example, in Cayuga County, Comell Cooperative Extension agreed to he the first responder for calls regarding nutrient management practices, pesticide spraying, odors, and manure run-off. The Department of Environmental Conservation agreed to be the first responder to calls concerning groundwater contamination, fish kills, and manure spreading close to streams. The town and county highway superintendents were identified as first responders to concerns regarding road spills and other agricultural impacts on roads.

Following the meeting, each member of the First Responder Network agrees to:

• Respond to issues or concerns over which the agency has expertise or jurisdiction.
• Promptly refer other calls received to the agency, which has the authority to address the issue raised.
• Share referral information with other appropriate First Responder Network agencies.

Information sharing among agencies helps ensure agencies having educational, technical, and regulatory responsibilities work together to address community concerns and assist farmers implement appropriate changes in their farming practices.

Periodic meetings among First Responder Network members provide opportunities to review network effectiveness, identify additional public concerns, and revise agency responsibilities within the network.

Many farm-neighbor concerns will be resolved by providing community members with information about "normal and accepted farming practices." Additional concerns may be resolved by the farmer agreeing to make changes in farm management practices. Under circumstances where community members feel that their concerns are not being addressed, the farmer does not agree that his or her farm is responsible for environmental impacts or the farmer is unwilling to implement changes in farming practices, the community member may choose to initiate litigation against the farmer. Coordination between the First Responder Network and a community dispute resolution center (CDRC) can help prevent concerns from progressing towards litigation. Community dispute resolution centers in New York assist individuals reach a resolution of their disputes while teaching individuals how to resolve their problems through mediation. Farmers and agency personnel can be trained as mediators through the CDRC. Working as co-mediators with CDRC mediators, farmers who are not involved in the dispute can help explain farming practices and farm laws to neighbors or provide peer support for farmers. Mediation training can assist representatives on the First Responder Network effectively respond to farm-neighbor complaints and concerns. This training can also allow agency personal help individuals prepare for mediation sessions.

As rural demographics and the structure of farming changes and as public awareness of environmental issues is enhanced, farm-neighbor conflicts are occurring with increasing frequency. Non-farm community members complain that their quality of life is detrimentally affected by odors and nutrient leaching associated with farming practices. Farmers are concerned about their ability to implement effective nutrient management practices, costs associated with potential environmental regulations, and the threat of lawsuits. Farmer outreach to community members in the form of newsletters, open houses, and neighborly assistance can help cultivate open communication and understanding between farm and non-farm community members. Agricultural, governmental and community organizations can facilitate the development of good farm-neighbor relationships through the establishment of a First Responder Network. Community dispute resolution or mediation centers can help resolve conflicts between farmers and neighbors while providing a less expensive and more rewarding alternative to litigation.

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