Are there any Heatlh and Saftey implications for Hay Fever sufferers from what crops Farmers plant on farms

Question

Do Farmers have any guidelines or any restrictions about what they can plant year on year and how the pollen will affect local people who are susceptible ?

If not why not ?

Answer 1

First off, most people who have hay fever are allergic to one of the three most common sources, trees, grasses and heavy pollen producers like ragweed.  

Corn has heavy pollen that doesn't go much of anywhere (maybe 50-100 feet with a strong wind)and as far as pollen from small grains, soybeans, alfalfa, clover, etc, you'd have to be shoving the stuff up your nose by the bucket fulls to get any appreciable amount.  In addition, all the above plants pollinate only for very limited amounts of time (approximately 5 days tops for corn) during the year.  

If you have chronic hay fever problems, then you better go see a doctor, get your shots, chug your antihistimine and keep your windows shut instead of thinking local farmers are causing your problems.  If you want to blame someone, blame your mother for keeping the house too clean when you were young.  Farm kids, and especially kids on dairy farms, as adults have fewer allergies than anyone else because they are exposed to all that stuff when young.  For example, I've tilled under blooming ragweed and my clothes and skin were literally yellow with pollen when I finished and I never did so much as sneeze.  Sure, I blew loads of yellow dust out of my nose, but that was it.

Answer 2

as far as i'm aware - living smack bang in the middle of fields and having chronic hay fever - no they dont.

they do crop rotation to ensure that they dont ruin their soil, but it's up to them how many fields of what crop they plant. as it can be down to the type of soil, money for different crops, weather patterns etc.

they have to inform you of any spray pesticides being used so that you can close doors/windows/bring pets in.....but that's about it