The conflicts in Fraser Valley in British Columbia are becoming more frequent as many houses are built close to farms and the new neighbors come to the countryside for the scenery and don’t realize the nuisance associated with intensive agriculture (noise, smell, flies, dust). Approved environmental plan is needed when considering farm expansion. Concerns are directed toward manure management and also toward water supply as B.C. farmers have been blamed by Washington State for downstream contamination of the Abbotsford Aquifer.
Margaret Crowley, director of the policy development at B.C. Federation of agriculture mention that the agricultural code of practice and the province’s right-to-farm legislation will have to be considered as the municipalities have 3 years to make their bylaws conform to both. Local governments will be advised on farm practices by an agriculture advisory peer group already set up and the farmers facing complaints will be visited by this group to find solutions where needed.

Advisory peer groups is an interesting tool to help control the situation and find solutions with the farmers. Education is often the beginning of the solutions as the farmers and local governments have more tools and understanding in addressing the problems.