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The Laws and Regulations Note to readers of tlii.s manual.: The following is not a legal document. It provides brief summaries of several relevant laws and some hypothetical situations that are intended only as examples to liven lip the text. If you have any questions or concerns about farming practices or neighbors' actions, please contact any of the resources noted on pages 35-36 or call an attorney Farming is an art and a science. Ask any farmer hoer lie or she decides which. fields to work first, wlien a. hay crop is ready to bale, or wl:tether an animal needs some TLC. The farm- er is likely to shrug and say soi:nethin.g about soil drainage and which fields face south, tlie velocity of wind and intensity of sun, and the look in the eye and sound of the moo of a fa- vorite cow. But the very same farmer is stare go- ing to use exacting instrumentation to test the sweetness and crispness of the .fall apple crop, to measure proportions for a. pesticide applica- tion, to count bacteria in the milk tank. Fanning is also hu.n:tariity's oldest econ.orriic activity. Like other human pursuits, farming generates its share of byproducts, some of great value and some we'd. like to be rid of. The de- sirable offshoots include the food we eat and the country landscapes we enjoy. The undesir- able but occasional side effects can range from noise, odor, and di.Ist to polluted streams from nnanure and. drift from pesticides wl:iose c hen d- cal components marry of us can't pronounce. It. is these unwanted effects that i:riost often lead to complaints by neighbors and demand. for regulatory controls. "lVe shouldn't have to worry about n.oxioas fumes in the air and Unclean drinking i:vater." "The fcz.rrners think they own the roads cz.rou.nd .1.4 here. They drive their- equipment from field to field at five miles an how- arid you can't get past therri." "These farmers just ignore us. It's time for the totilll to do something about these problems." Not surprisingly, a host of laws and regula- tions governing ag rieulture 'liave been adopted over the years. Most try to balance the art and the science of farming without undermining its economic viability. In other words, the laws recognize variance in conditions and practices within this diverse profession while respecting the precision that modern technology makes possible. In doing so, they also seek to balance the competing interests of farmers, neighbors, and society as a. whole. "This is my farm and you can't stop me from building a new barn." "I want to enjoy my weekends and you're tak- ing away rrzy peace and quiet." "I don't want to find blemishes on, the apples or bugs in the lettuce." The primary objective of state and federal laws governing farming is to protect the environ- ment and the health and safety of communities. Other state laws, as well as local laws, mean to preserve farming as a preferred use of land re- sources and a viable sector for rural economies.