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The rural landscape is changing. It is not uncommon today to see a producing farm and a non-farm homestead side by side, and even to see neighborhood developments crop-up next to a producing farm.

Socializing in rural communities has changed as well. Some farmers say community-wide gatherings are less frequent and attract a smaller number of long-time farmers. And one neighbor helping another is also less frequent - not out of unwillingness, just out of staying more focused on one’s own business at hand.

Practicing neighborliness is a good way to regain some of the social interaction currently lacking in some communities. What can you do this month? If you have a plow or snow blower, shoveling snow off a driveway would be an excellent way to be helpful. Just hold onto that thought during the next snowfall. Neighborly acts ensure good working or business relationships besides friendships.

According to many farmers, talking with your neighbors and letting them know what you are doing is extremely important. Taking the time to explain farming practices to your neighbors builds trust and can diffuse conflicts. Building a good communication link enables you to talk about concerns and potential conflicts and it helps neighbors understand that you are approachable and interested in their concerns. They are more likely to approach you with questions instead of letting their anxieties brew to a more contentious level.

Keeping your neighbors informed of activities that affect them, and including them in your decision-making, helps to build good working relationships. This could include informing them when you plan to apply pesticide or manure on your land, plow late into the night, or transport large machinery on public roads. If possible, ask your neighbors if these activities would interfere with any event in their lives, such as weddings, graduations, or family gatherings.

Reaching out to your neighbors to educate those who are not familiar with farming and to keep others informed of typical farming practices should be a part of a producer’s business plan.

Use the month of February to ask yourself how many ways you can be a good neighbor…the practice may be contagious.

Marilyn Baker, Director of Community Alliances, The Ohio Farm Bureau Federation