CAN
CITIES AND FARMS COEXIST? NEW STUDY EXAMINES
UTILITY OF AGRICULTURAL BUFFER ZONES
MODESTO, California, July 12,
2002 – What to do about
new neighbors complaining that farm dust
is dirtying their swimming pools or that
farm equipment is slowing down traffic?
According to a new
report from the Great Valley Center,
farm education geared towards urban Californians
would go a long way towards correcting
popular misconceptions about what it takes
to profitably run a modern farm operation.
The findings are part of a study by the
Modesto-based Great Valley Center examining
statewide experiences with separating
land uses between active agricultural
land and newly-built subdivisions. According
to the report, recent homebuyers are often
surprisingly unaware that dust, spraying
and smells have long been part of agriculture.
The result is that farmers find themselves
spending valuable time managing complaints.
“Some misunderstandings could be
avoided if farms were seen as more than
just open space,” said Holly King,
the Center’s Agricultural Programs
Manager, “We hope to stimulate discussion
on developing land use and education solutions
before problems arise.”
Among the study’s suggestions were
the expansion of farm group education
outreach programs used to good effect
in parts of Southern California and tailoring
physical land use separators – also
known as buffers – to specific farm
activities. As noted in the report, while
a brick wall buffer might address dust
or rodents, it would be ineffective with
residential complaints surrounding smell.
The study, entitled “Can City and
Farm Coexist: The Agricultural Buffer
Experience in California” was authored
by Sonya Varea-Hammond currently serves
as County Director of the University of
California’s Cooperative Extension
in Monterey County. The full report and
information regarding the Center’s
Agricultural Programs can be found at
www.greatvalley.org or by contacting the
Center at (209) 522-5103.
Founded in 1997, the Great Valley Center
is a private, non-profit organization
that supports organizations and activities
working to improve the economic, social
and environmental well-being of California’s
Great Central Valley.
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Media Contact:
Richard Cummings
(209) 522-5103
