Hello, this is not a subject that will warm your heart. In fact, if you are familiar with the subject, you will (unless you are a cattle or dairy farmer) have a lot of sympathy for me.
OK down to the chase.
I live in the country side. In other words, I do not have to walk far to see sheep, horses and cattle, etc in field of grass. Also, I should point out, that where I live, there are some 500 houses, BUT there are working farms close by.
OK now to the real chase.

I AM DISCUSTED AND FED UP WITH FARMERS SPREADING SLURRY CLOSE TO HOUSES.

We get no advantage from having a dairy farm just up the road, but come the first sunny day in the spring, we have to close the windows and doors because of the putrid smell. We don't even get offered the occasional carton of milk, for the undisputed discomfort associated with the discusting air quality. Beef farmers, as you will realise, are equally to blame.
Now, I realise that this animal waste has to be dumped, but not at my door. I have discovered that as little as a mile is far enough away, for the smell not to be a problem. So why is there not legislation to tell farmers not to use fields that are closer than a mile to human habitation? OK, let's say that where there are more than ten houses, within a certain space, that the farmers have to find soemwhere else, to dump there foul effluent.

There I've done it. I only hope someone with a bit of clout, could persuade common sense to prevail and give everyone who lives within this air polluted vicinity a break from unfeeling farmers. Why do I say that? Because they don't spread the much anywhere near their own homes.

REALLY?

Unfortunately, that is one of the downsides of living in a rural or semi-rural environment. As you say, there are no regulations specifying distance but if you think that the smell is excessive, you can complain to your local council or environmental agency and they will or should investigate.

Sounds like there are at least 500 households that could band together,
maybe start with a petition, flash some signatures..

I don't feel bad for you?
I grew up living near farms, I worked on farms.
There are many things that stink related to farming.
Spreading manure and ammonia injection is just part of farming.
The larger the farm, the more fields which need fertilized to grow crops.
Chances are good that the land your home stands on was, at one time, a farmer's field.

At one time, I lived right beside a train car assembly plant. The steel yard was right across the road from my house. It was a 24/7 factory.
Non-stop clanging of steel on steel and the rats were the size of house cats.
Constant trucks hauling steel deliveries.

Later in life I lived three blocks from a steel mill which made the steel used in bridges and trains 'n stuff. Loud, dirty and heavy truck traffic. Rats the size of small dogs. Everything was covered in a funky grime.

Have you visited the farmer personally? Most will limit their fertilizing activity in an area if someone asks. Most people are not monsters if you treat them with respect and act like a sane person.
Try talking with your neighbor and see if there is a way they can limit your exposure.
Depending on the crop they are growing they may be able to switch fields so a crop requiring less fertilization is closest to your home.

Try to remember, no matter what they do, its still their land.
Perhaps you can make an offer to buy out those fields closest to your home?

Realize, if you live near a steel mill or steel assembly plant you just need to deal with the environment where you choose to live.
Likewise, if you live near a farm, you should realize you will have to deal with farming smells.

Another thing I just remembered, my mom planted lilac bushes near the windows and there was a line of bushes near the field closest to the house.

You might take note of the prevailing wind direction during the period when the farm is fertilizing and plant wind-breaks and aroma bushes in that direction. Things which could add to the value of your home.

I like where I live and if it comes with farm smells, that's fine by me .

Who was there first. The houses or the farms?. You buy a place next to a farm then expect the farmer to change what he's doing because you don't like it? Sounds like you belong in the suburbs not the country.

Because seemingly most people only:
1. Go to the internet and complain to people who don't really care, aren't all that affected, and have no power or authority to do anything, as opposed to talking to their neighbors/community, lawyers, and/or politicians?

2. Go to the internet and complain, find a bunch of people that agree with them, then set up protests that do nothing but annoy and interfere with random citizens, unless it turns to looting and violence which overshadows the purpose of the protest in the first place?

3. Go to their neighbors/community, and/or politicians, who set up committees with a veneer of legitimacy but are given a goalseek answer beforehand, buying time through a bureaucratic process hoping the problem goes away, and/or are paid off (err, campaign donated to) by those with deeper pockets than those complaining to them?


Brings to mind the stories about people that climb down into public port-a-potty's.
Maybe sell your home to a scat fetishist at a premium then buy a mansion a mile down the road!


I don't know why you say that.
Are you under the impression there are a lot of people with a bit of clout in your locality that peruse dating website forums for legislative ideas?

Thanks all for your unsympathetic replies.

THESE FARMERS DO NOT MUCK SPREAD NEAR THEIR OWN HOMES.

Need I say any more?

Also, ................. why bother?

Sounds like a legitimate issue -but I would definitely go straight to the head farmer and ask if there might be some arrangement. If not successful, whatever health department might have an issue with poop near houses. A petition is also a good idea if you need support then.

I'd love to find a place that didn't have ridiculous restrictions concerning what can be done on your own land, but a valid health concern should override a lack of restrictions.

I don't like Rural areas. Farm smells or no farm smells.

I love it when everything is in bloom and your nose can barely distinguish between the awesome scents. Sometimes they change though and you have to stop your nose.

Ah! so you really only complained here for sympathy.. some people gave you some great advice...

Fact! If you don't like where you live... MOVE.