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1. But it’s only 5 am!

Farming requires long hours. The typical workday starts early and ends late. And yes, the rooster does crow at the break of dawn. Just think of it as nature’s alarm clock!

2. What’s that noise?

Most farming is done with large machinery. Sometimes peace and quiet can be disturbed especially during planting and harvest time. Machines can run late into the night and start up very early in the morning.

3. What’s that smell?

Many crops rely on fertilization and many farmers use the “end” products, pardon the pun, of their livestock. The farmer is recycling and using an environmentally friendly alternative to chemical fertilizers. It is quite common to see a farmer spraying this fertilizer onto his fields. That many cows….that large barn…only one bathroom. The accumulated liquids become fertilizer and are normally sprayed on fields twice a year. Depending on wind direction, it can disrupt a patio party quite quickly. It may be a good idea to contact your farming neighborhood and see what the schedule is for spraying.

4. Where is all that smoke coming from?

In BC, farmers are protected under the ‘Right to Farm Act’ and are permitted to clear large tracts of land for crops or grazing. They must receive approval from the Province of BC prior to burning, but are not required to notify the neighbors. In most cases, they don’t. One can check with the province to find out when the burning is scheduled.

5. There’s the fence…his property, my property

Most of the time, yes. But property lines in the country are not always clear. Make sure you know where they are and respect them. Most farm animals are fairly docile, however it is not a good idea to be on the same side of the fence as a bull or a stallion. If you are not sure how to act around the neighbor’s animals, ask.

6. Where does Fido fit in?

For many people, moving from the city to a rural property means having a family dog. Dogs are great companions and well suited to a rural lifestyle where there is room to romp and play. Dogs are also predators and given the opportunity, may chase and in some cases kill livestock. It is important that you keep your dog in an enclosed area and do not permit your dog to run loose. One loose dog is bad…more than one loose dog constitutes a “pack” and farmers can tell you of instances of mass kills of sheep, chickens and other livestock caused by pack dogs. Dogs can also stress livestock even if there is a fence separating them. Please ensure your dog is kept away from property lines and other areas that may allow the dog to interact with livestock.

7. How long do we have to follow this guy?

Living in the country can sometimes mean less traffic, but farm equipment is slow and may cause you delays, especially during harvest time. Be patient, the road where he’s turning may be just ahead.

8. Farmers have a right to farm.

The fundamental policy of the new provincial government’s Farm Practices Protection (Right to Farm) Act is that farmers have a right to farm in BC's important farming areas, particularly the Agricultural Land Reserve, provided they use normal farm practices and follow other legislation listed in the act (Environmental Management Act, Integrated Pest Management Act, Health Act and their regulations).