Berlin is farm country -- and they've got the laws to prove it

Berlin and its farm animals have a message for prospective residents: We're here, we smell bad sometimes, deal with it.

BERLIN

Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley has given the final stamp of approval to the farm preservation bylaw that Berlin Town Meeting members approved in May.

The law declares Berlin to be a farming community and protects farmers against complaints that often arise about the nuisances that often accompany farming practices, such as dust, noise and odors.

People considering purchasing property in the town are notified about the law before they close deals on land. The Attorney General approves all local new local bylaws before they can be enacted, with an eye to making sure they don't conflict with other laws.

-- John Dyer