Being a good neighbor: Dealing with manure

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Radio interview source: Cheryl Tevis, farm issues editor, Successful Farming magazine

Ah ... fresh country air. Of course, that means different things to different people. It's the smell of money for one person, but to the new neighbor down the road it might spark a phone call to county officials. Livestock farms are often the target of smells, usually when farmers are hauling manure.

Getting to know your neighbors is the most important and simplest action you can take to help minimize tension. Cheryl Tevis with Successful Farming magazine says if you're new to the country, invite them over the fence for a barbecue.

"Just say, you know, it's great to be out in the country, I'm really enjoying it, but you know I've discovered there's so much I don't know about farming," Tevis says. "I've noticed this is done, or the other practice that's going on. And then educating yourself a little bit about farming and agriculture will let your neighbor know you're making the effort at least to understand what the difficulties are and the challenges in farming and that it's a two-way street."