A whup-whup-whup sound is rising from blueberry fields in Cloverdale, a helicopter-like noise that wakes up most nearby residents.

The turbulence continues through the night, and Judy Kern, her family, and neighbours are unable to sleep because of it.

A controversial new technology known as frost fans has hit local fields.

Blueberry cannons – propane-powered bird-scaring devices – have long been the bane of residents living near berry crops (see “Cannon fire over Cloverdale,” page 3).

Now that frost fans are becoming a popular salvo in local farmers’ battle against the elements, the patience of non-farming neighbours may be stretched even further.

The large towers resembling wind power generators are designed to warm blueberry crops to avoid frost damage, especially in spring when the berries are just beginning to grow.

The fans automatically kick in at night when the temperature is warmer several feet above the ground than it is at crop level. The blades begin spinning and oscillating to blow the warm air down to the ground.

They’re loud, and they only kick in at night.

Paul Gill, of M&M Pacific Coast Farms, just installed the fans on his 65-acre farm at 50 Avenue and 152 Street this year.

If he had them in place last year, he would have saved 70 per cent of his crop from the damaging frost.

Gill said the key to the fans, which cost about $50,000 each, is to use them appropriately and moderately. Given enough distance from area homes and they shouldn't be that audible, he said.

Kern and her neighbours are near another farm they say is extremely loud at night.

Kern and her neighbours addressed Surrey’s Agricultural Advisory Committee (AAC) this week in hopes of getting the machines outlawed.

The AAC has already heard a presentation by one of the companies that makes the frost fans.

Coun. Marvin Hunt, the city’s elected representative on the AAC, said residents have a reason to be upset.

“I said [to the fan company], ‘what are you doing for the propellors themselves?’ ” Hunt said. “He basically looked at me like ‘what are you talking about?’ ”

Other countries looking at similar devices have designers focusing on propeller design and how it throws the air off, Hunt said.

“That’s where you get the noise – off the end of the propeller,” Hunt said. “There is research being done, I just don’t think these guys are into that.”

Peter Battistoni also lives near the big machines and said they went up last year without any notice to nearby residents or even municipal approvals.

Because of the B.C. Right to Farm Act and the unique design of the fans, Battistoni was told by Surrey bylaws that permits weren’t necessary.

Battistoni said it’s unbelievable that now on top of summertime blueberry cannons (propane-powered bird scaring devices), people living near berry fields will have to endure the frost fans.

Hunt is sympathetic to the neighbours’ plight.

The city needs to be cognizant of the Right to Farm Act, but it doesn’t preclude the municipality from enforcing design guidelines, distance from housing and hours of operation, Hunt said.

“It’s something that’s new to us, and it’s something we’ll be investigating. Certainly the [AAC] is investigating first of all the whole farm practices side of things,” Hunt said.

kdiakiw@surreyleader.com