In ruling that the hog barn interfered with the neighbors' right to enjoy their property, the court ordered the farmer to pay damages to each of the neighbors. There was a similar case in Ontario in 1967. A poultry operation was shut down because the neighbors complained of odors. The same type of odors that led to problems for these farmers can be created by cattle producers in the spring after disposing of a winter's manure or feedlots when spreading manure. Grain farmers aren't immune, either.
Problems can arise when urban sub-divisions encroach on farm land.
The new neighbors may not like the dust that comes with seeding or harvesting, and they might not appreciate aerial spraying, or the noise from seeding or harvesting late into the night. For example, Alberta brought in the Agriculture Operation Practices Act in 1987, and Ontario passed the Farm Practices Protection Act in 1988. Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and British Columbia have all followed with similar laws. If you farm or ranch, you must follow provincial laws on the environment, water, and public health to have protection from nuisance suits. In the other 4 provinces, the decision is made by a Farm Practices Review Board comprised of farmers with experience in various types of agriculture production.