Well.... Here we go...... Let the bitching begin

So we're about 80% through construction on the new farm and about 2 weeks ago we got a call from the EPD saying the neighbor was complaining about muddy water coming from the retention pond. They weren't so much worried about the muddy water but more that chicken litter would wash down out of the back of the houses and into the spring that's on the property line. The fact is the only litter that goes out the back of the houses is what's on your shoes when you step out and they know this because their brother/brother in law has 4 houses right in front of their house. Anyway, we went with it and did everything the EPD inspector asked. Well, today my father in law got a text from the neighbor along that I call her. It turns out she got his number from her daddy thinking it was mine. Well I called and the whole conversation was basically what are we going to do to work with them? First off, we're legal according to the county, the EPD, the NRCS, and chicken company. Second, what the hell makes a person think they can stomp toes by reporting us to the EPD and then ask "what are you going to do to work with us"? And her complaints we're so rediculous I don't know where to start. She complained about the back of the houses being on the end where she lives. That wasn't our decision. That was made by the chicken company and the designer and on top of that it just made the most sense. Second she's worried about the dust being blown on her property and what it might do to her children's health. The only fans pointed toward her property is 1 36" fan on the back of each house and the closest one is about 300 ft from the line and if that fan can blow dust 300 ft. then I'm 7 ft tall and bullet proof and can piss liquid gold. Her last complaint was the best one. She complained about the placement of the incinerator and how bad it will stink. THERE'S NOT AN INCINERATOR THERE YET!!! She saw a 500 gallon fuel tank from her yard and decided it's an incinerator and she knows how bad they smell because she grew up on a farm. The damn fuel tank doesn't have a smoke stack! Sorry for the rant. Just a little stressed I guess.

I have and has had the same problems too! I did manage to chase out numerous neighbors thru the years...(won't tells ya how, staute of limitations ain't out yets). maybe a 6 foot solid fence between the houses and her place, that way any complaints from her would hafta come from her trespassing to try any complaints. and of course some females ain't happy thru life unless they can bitch bout someone or something! I guess I better ad males and he/she's in on the last statement too. finally...is she a competitor? stay with the requirements of the govt agencies tho. they are the best backups (not always the right ones) you can have right now. keep us posted

Ted...maybe he needs some refrigerated trucks with spiqots out the side and some brass poles in the barns on opening eve? maybe a loud band too?

I live on 6+ ac in a rural area and when we bought this place we needed to sign a agreement that we were aware that at times in a rural area there are odors, smells etc that are offensive.  There has been very little bitching about ag noise or smells in this area.

Just another flower child or snow flake who's version of country life came from reading mother goose tales. Dealing with them can sometimes be the route of least resistance but it won't always cure them. Assuming you are legally installed and operating only you can decide at what point you tell them tuff chit, deal with it. I dealt with these people for many years in my business. Some cannot be satisfied and believe me, the authorities get tired of hearing thier iligit gripes also.

Ignore the neighbors! Tell them to FOAD! lol!! The fence idea might not be bad either!--IF it's practical to build. DON'T give in to them, block the phone, and go about making your business grow!

JohnCO wrote: Maybe you should ask her brother/brother in law what her problem is.  Perhaps she's pregnant, I've noticed that women in that condition can be a real pain to deal with, hormone thing I guess.

I guess pregnant could be a possibility but from the way she sounded he had to be hard up and desperate

let her git the ulcers!

If it was me doing what you are doing, within a week of buying the land, I would of been planting 4-5 rows of trees along the line anywhere there was a house.

Tyler, you should go with hedges instead of pines.

We get the "factory farm" name a lot. All from people that have no idea about the industry or how the farm operates. They just know what they've seen in PETA videos on the internet. They have seen them and they KNOW we're all just absolute monsters that are making millions and don't care about the animals. Have to ignore it but it's not easy

Edited by thendrix - 11 Jan 2020 at 12:16pm

chaskaduo wrote: How dare you feed us.

That's the funny thing. The people complaining don't take into account the benefit they get from it. Most of them would rather move the poultry industry to South America or Asia where they don't regulate feed ingredients or animal welfare.

You mean send her to the complaint officer named Helen Waite? If she has a problem she should go to Helen Waite? Sounds good to me

I talked to a friend who also has a chicken farm. He said everybody has a crazy neighbor. He said he cut a hedgerow down that was on his property and his came over and ate him up one side and down the other because of it

Edited by thendrix - 11 Jan 2020 at 9:27pm

If you haven't noticed that most people don't care as long as they don't see it. Just look how many years has it been that they shut our factories down becouse of emissions, pollution, labor and other red tape. But don't seem to be bothered how the other countries manufacture stuff