Ron Versteeg

The applicants, neighbouring residents, applied to the Normal Farm Practices Protection Board complaining of disturbances (noise, dust, vibration, and safety concerns) resulting from the respondents' greenhouse and nursery operation, specifically the heavy truck traffic on a shared right-of-way and the warehousing of off-site products.

The Board found that the applicants were directly affected by some disturbances.

However, applying the test for a normal farm practice, the Board concluded that the respondents' use of the right-of-way and their warehousing activities were consistent with proper and acceptable customs and standards for similar agricultural operations.

The application was dismissed.

The applicant, a Christmas tree farmer, applied to the Normal Farm Practices Protection Board for a determination that his practice of burning dead trees and trimmings to control pine thrips was a normal farm practice, exempting him from a municipal open burning by-law.

The local fire chief had extinguished the applicant's fire on Christmas Eve after smoke enveloped neighbouring residences and obscured road visibility.

The Board found that while burning for insect control can be a normal farm practice, doing so at this specific location within town limits and under circumstances that severely impacted neighbours was not a normal farm practice.

The application was dismissed.