Nice to maintain good relations with your neighbor, but I, too, think he's been unreasonable.
To wit, the following dissertation may be appropriate. I didn't write this but I'm sharing it with you in view of the "compromise"theme........
So You Want to Move to the Country
Yes, I get the appeal of stepping out your front door and seeing for miles
around. I understand the romance in surrounding yourself with the beauties
of Mother Nature and breathing fresh air. Bingo, that is why I live in the
country and farm. So if you choose to move to rural America or select a lot
on the edge of town surrounded by farmland, let me offer you some common
sense tidbits:
I will never apologize for having my farming equipment on the road. It is
large and cost more than a BMW, please slow down and share the road. The
more you honk the slower I go.
If a farmer is in the field adjacent to your house with any kind of
equipment, close your windows! Dust is going to fly; it will enter into the house
and collect on your furniture.
Yes, our equipment is large and makes noise. Thanks for noticing. Mother
Nature gives us very limited days to get the crop in and out of the field.
In season, we are working long hours and it is a large possibility that the
field closest to your bedroom window will be worked in the early morning or
late night hours. Remember, less interruptions the quicker the noise goes
away.
I will only apologize once (that happen at birth) in my lifetime for placing
mud on the roads. I also paid for the roads and try very hard to avoid this
but sometimes it just happens.
If you live near a livestock operation, then at some point the normal smells
will reach your property similar to the skunk entering your property. We
cannot control the wind. Give it time; it will shift.
I agree manure does have an odor when applied to the field. It is a natural
way to fertilize. Do you want 'natural/organic' or chemical fertilization? Just asking...
Yes, I realize pets escape. Stray dogs wandering on the farmer's property
are more than nuisances; they are a financial burden when they harm livestock,
kill animals, or ruin fences.
Fences are placed on land for a reason. Trust me - as ranchers we do not find
great joy in building or repairing fence. Yes, each fence is either
electrified or barb wired. It will do damage to all living things. Fences
are constructed for both the safety of the animals and humans.
I understand the appeal of wanting to pet a baby calf but do not enter my
property from a side or back property line at will and reach across the
electric fence. Yes, the electric fence does bite and I will not apologize
for that. Secondly, I will not be liable for accidents on my property by
trespassers. If you want to pet a cow, cool! Come up my drive and just ask!
My farmland is not your personal recreational hotspot. No, you cannot hunt,
hike, bike, canoe down my ditch, fish, dump trash, party, or partake in any
other outdoor recreational activity without my permission.
I am not amused when your child[ren] or you drive your ATV-Vehicle over my
field. I take damage to my crop very seriously. It is my livelihood and you
just cost me money. Likewise, I am not smiling when you ride straight
towards my fence at full speed. Accidents happen; you will get hurt (or
worse) and my cattle will get out. My child pours her heart and soul into
raising her livestock and she does not care for them to end up on the
highway hit by a car.
If I cut a tree down on my property, I am not clear cutting.
Recognize that we are going to agree to disagree on many things. If you do
not understand why I do something try asking before calling the sheriff,
EPA, or other government authorities.
More Importantly:
Despite what you read in the newspapers, see on TV, or hear in an awarding
winning documentary; I deeply care about Clean Air, Clean Water, and the
Land. For generations, farmers and ranchers have been passionate caretakers
of the land, water, and air. For more than two centuries family farms have
demonstrated that sustaining the nation's natural resources is essential to
keeping the business in the family for the next generation.
I did not invite developers to poor concrete in my backyard to replace acres
and acres of farmland meant to feed the world.
Remember, without agriculture you would be naked and hungry. Do not bite the
hand that feeds or clothes you.
