CAFO’s in Politics
Although it appeared that Indiana’s state elections might at least bring up the issue of the increase in CAFO’s up for debate this year, so far, there has been little said about it.
This has not been the case in Iowa, a state that has had longer to look down stream of large scale livestock operations. The key issue in Iowa over the last couple of years has been state versus local control of large scale farming operations. This is the same issue confronting Indiana counties now as the try to put up local limits through zoning and health ordinances, while efforts are underway at the state capital to pass limits on the local control of these facilities.
In Iowa, the race for the Secretary of Agriculture is turning on the issue of local control. The Republican candidate, Bill Northey favors a single statewide set of regulations, while his Democrat opponent poultry farmer Denise o"Brien, favors maintaining local control. The race is likely to be a tight one, but Iowa’s Farm Bureau recently formed a "527" organization called "Iowans for Agriculture" to help muddy the waters and inspire voters to go for the Republican.
A friend in Iowa reminded me of this race, which is fast approaching its conclusion, and while not a purely local issue, I think Indiana will be having the same types of debates in the coming years.
