Happy Monday, Happy Fall, CAFO Update
Madison County, the site of the struggle between a hog CAFO and Elwood Concerned Citizens, is set to consider another special use permit for a hog CAFO. However, Justin Schneider reports that this one should be less controversial than the last one:
Representatives of Simmermon Farms Inc. have requested the special use for 366 1/2 acres on the south side of County Road 300 North between County Road 600 West and County Road 700 West in Jackson Township. The property is zoned agricultural.
“What they’re doing is somewhat different from what we saw before,” said board member William Hobbs. “He’s replacing a building that already existed and the net gain of hogs for that is 40 or 50. It’s not substantial by any means.”
Link (Herald Bulletin).
In Henry County, the Pal-Item is reporting today that IDEM will be coming to town Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. to talk about CAFO’s:
The meeting at the W.G. Smith Building in New Castle will explain Indiana’s permitting process and the regulatory program, said Amy Hartsock, IDEM spokeswoman. Information on the proposed and existing confined feeding operations also will be provided.
"Due to the level of interest in Henry County, we will clarify what we do. It’s an opportunity to learn more about the permitting program and to make concerns known so we can respond," Hartsock said.
Link.
Up in St. Joseph County, the Southbend Tribune is happy with the progress of a committee designing new local CAFO regulations:
CAFOs are a concern. A need to establish some local authority over them arose when a plan was put forth to build a giant dairy operation in southern St. Joseph County. It would have about 3,500 head of cattle and generate a mammouth amount of manure.
Link.
The editorial says that the work of Marc Nelson from the county health department was the key to reaching an agreement of the final recommendations.
Want to be a hog farmer, but don’t know where to start? Already a Hog farmer, but need to brush up on your skills? Check out Purdue’s Pork Industry Handbook , now available in the 2007 edition through the Purdue Extension website. The Waste Reduction Resource Center has a nice overview of hog CAFO operations up over here, for the broader public interested in industrial hog production.
While you are out and about, be sure to run through the toxic tour of rural Texas over at Toxic Texas. The linked page details the spoiled waterways of Erath County, home to 200 dairy feedlots.
