At Pork Expo (Continued from Pago A2O) “flowing” into a neighbor’s well The woman who filed the* lawsuit was seeking damages. However, during the course of the trial, it was discovered the well was aban doned and the woman was not liv ing in the house supposedly served by the well she lived in a trailer some distance away. The defen dant won. • An Indiana producer who was the subject of a lawsuit and won the case wrote a 16-page letter to Andrews, describing the “emo tional toll” the case exacted on him and his family. The defendant found out that tlpe neighbors he thought would support him appeared not as reliable as he sup posed. Neighborhood kids got in fights over the lawsuit The pro ducer asked Andrews the question: Why is there no “objective stan dard” for odor in the country? “It doesn’t exist at this point” said Andrews. lowa has some building restric tions, including a 1,250-foot set back from residential property for manure storage. Colorado is con sidering a law to make the setback one mile. Right now, several states have a minimum setback of V* of a mile. Despite all this, “pork produc tion is happening,” and it’s not the end of the world for producers. Andrews noted. But Andrews cautioned that no amount of public relation work on the part of the producer, right to farm acts, or coverups will protect producers in lawsuits if that pro ducer does not farm in an “envir onmentally friendly” manner. “You have to become an environ- Parts Discount 10% Cash & Carry Triple TRUCKLOAD Softener Salt Sale Lower Price! J§Tsale^* N-TECH Rental Manure Equipment 5 Tankers • 4 Pumps mentalist when it comes to your farm,” he said. Still, Andrews recommends that by following a manure plan and learning the latest techniques in odor control, there is some pro tection. He also offers the follow ing advice as a manner to legal defense in the event of a lawsuit ■ Practice good public relations. “You need to be open and honest about what you’re doing in the operation,” said Andrews. Don’t hide your farming. Notify neigh bors when spreading manure. Seek their advice. “Give the neighbors a chance to have some say in your operations,” Andrews said. “Give them some benefit of control.” If they complain, “respond to the complaints thoughtfully, courte ously, and soon,” he noted. • Foster goodwill. Offer tours of new sites. Sometimes, Andrews believes, neighbors have nothing but a bad impression of what you do. They think you’re pumping the waste tight into the groundwater. In one North Carolina facility, a delegation of 6-8 neighbors regu larly inspect a large swine opera tion to make sure it remains envir onmentally friendly. • Give away food. Provide hams at Christmastime, have a barbecue, invite the neighbors over. “Give (your neighbor) a feeling that he is benefiting from that farm,” Andrews said. • Be creative. There are “tons of things you can do,” said Andrews. He said that even if it involves offering to put your neighbor's family up in the Super 8 Motel with a swimming pool for three days, it will give the neighbor’s kids the impression that “it’s (Turn to Pago A3l) Discount Days Potomac Valley Supply Hagerstown, MD • 301-223-6877 February 17th & 18th Second place team at the Keystone Pork Bowl on Wednesday went to the Berks County 4-H. Team members are, from left, John Hartman, Justin Levan, Ben Welst (captain), Brian Hartman, and Matt Manbeck. Third place Pork Bowl team went to the Pig ’R Us 4-H from Potter County. From left, Annette Miles, coach; Cory Miles, captain; Kristie Lane; Holly Greene; and Holly Hyde. Tuesday and Wednesday at Hfivt <*! •t i H’Jf ‘Vii vmiif >) ii Lancastar Fuming, Saturday, Fafamaiy 14,1998-A2l \ Silo Unloaders (Snson Tabejr >v Heavy Duty Feeders & Conveyors X-o Si X 9 Potomac/ VMey I Rest Assured with Buy Future Mat so your cows can rest Quality Installation so you can too.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers