6 ways you can improve neighbor relations
By Shirley Roenfeldt
| Tuesday, August 03, 2004
Image does matter. what people outside of agriculture think of your business will be a driving force that influences the rules and regulations that you abide by.
Take, for example, four Wisconsin dairies that went through the permitting process last year. At the public hearings for three of them, no one came to speak against the dairies. But the fourth dairy “did not have a positive hearing,” says Dennis Frame, director of the University of Wisconsin - Discovery Farms Program. All are good producers, and they implemented sound nutrient-management plans. The difference, says Frame, is that three have developed good relationships with their neighbors; the other did not.
Every producer who wants to remain in agriculture needs to invest in public relations. If you don’t, your neighbors will draw their own conclusions about your business from what they see on the news, hear at the coffee shop, or notice as they drive by your operation.
In some cases, developing a positive relationship with your neighbors may be difficult because of their attitude. You cannot control how they feel. But you can control how you communicate with them and how you react to their concerns.
Use the list of top complaints below to start your own public-relations campaign with your neighbors.
1. Noise, dust and light pollution. When you put up alfalfa at midnight or do field work at odd hours of the night, your neighbors may see it as irritation. To them, it’s that much longer they must keep their windows shut because of headlights that shine in, noise and dust. So, it helps to explain the basics to them. Rather than trying to irritate them, you want to put up alfalfa at the right moisture content, and you only have a certain window of time to achieve that.
2. Negative effects on environment. The general public believes that larger farms pollute more. Explain to your neighbors that you have a soil-conservation plan, and that it is in your best economic interest to be a good steward of the land. Explain to them that manure nutrients are a valuable source of organic nutrients for crop production.
3. Odor. Hold an open house for neighbors so they can see what you do to limit odors. Teach them what you do, and they will support you.
4. Loss of the family farm. Explain that all sizes of farms are needed to feed the world. And, most dairy farms are still family farms. Some have simply grown in order to support more family members, gain efficiencies, and create jobs.
5. Agriculture is not community-oriented. Get involved in your community. Start by always being open and honest with your neighbors. Consider sponsoring a local softball team or a FFA event. Make it your business to know if a wedding, graduation or other special event is going on in your neighborhood, and then plan accordingly.
6. They don’t care about my concerns. Establish a clear chain of command for complaints. If you tend to be a “hot head,” assign someone else who can listen compassionately. Investigate any complaints, evaluate if a problem exists, and then fix it if necessary. A lot of times, neighbors just want to be heard. When you don’t listen, they will find a regulatory body that will.
