Hog wild
Mark Hardy
Issue date: 9/4/08 Section: News
Many concerns of Primmer's and other Brashear residents warrant investigation. The American Public Health Association and the Missouri Association of Osteopathic Physicians both called for a moratorium on new CAFOs until more studies analyzing health risks can be performed. Associate County Commissioner Gene Schneider said he sympathizes with them but thinks there is little the County Commission can do.
"We studied his application, did our preliminary read through before sending it to the Health Department, but it doesn't appear to have any problems," Schneider said "If he meets the rules outlined in the health code, there's nothing we can do."
The current commission approved the Adair County health code two years ago. The code was a copy of Linn County's health code, designed to prevent the expansion of CAFOs from the neighboring Sullivan County.
"The code was very strict … and in Linn County, it worked," Schneider said. "Adair County is so populated that you wouldn't think someone could get far enough from a residence, but [Miller] seems to be in the right place."
A week before last Wednesday, Schneider went with many of the opposition to Miller's existing CAFO in Knox County. He said that although there was definitely a strong stench inside the facility, from the outside he did not detect much of an odor.
"From 50 feet away I could catch a whiff every once in awhile, but from 100 feet I couldn't smell a thing," he said. "Not that it's a scientific study."
The Commission is taking care to choose very deliberate, targeted actions in anything involving the situation. Schneider said they are aware that litigation is likely regardless of what decision they make and that both sides have strong cases and feelings.
"We tried to be objective," Schneider said. "But this man seems very genuine and honest about what he intends to do."
Miller began building and operating poultry CAFOs in Iowa before selling them and moving to Missouri about four years ago. Two years ago he opened a CAFO in neighboring Knox County, and Schneider said there have been no complaints concerning smell.
Schneider discussed some plans Miller has for his farm. Because of increasing fertilizer prices, Miller wants to use the pig manure to fertilize his land, he said. Schneider said Miller mentioned the Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension program at the University of Missouri to commissioners, a program that teaches how to take samples of soil to calculate how much manure can be safely added to land without resulting in water polluting runoff.
He said Miller also mentioned the University's Nutrient Management Plan, though how these practices are put to use and who performs them or pays for them is unclear.
Schneider said Miller wants to use farming to support his family and sons who also work the land with him but that making a living off of farming is difficult. In order to make a living as a family farmer, John Mark Miller and sons have incorporated.
Miller could not be reached for comment.
"We studied his application, did our preliminary read through before sending it to the Health Department, but it doesn't appear to have any problems," Schneider said "If he meets the rules outlined in the health code, there's nothing we can do."
The current commission approved the Adair County health code two years ago. The code was a copy of Linn County's health code, designed to prevent the expansion of CAFOs from the neighboring Sullivan County.
"The code was very strict … and in Linn County, it worked," Schneider said. "Adair County is so populated that you wouldn't think someone could get far enough from a residence, but [Miller] seems to be in the right place."
A week before last Wednesday, Schneider went with many of the opposition to Miller's existing CAFO in Knox County. He said that although there was definitely a strong stench inside the facility, from the outside he did not detect much of an odor.
"From 50 feet away I could catch a whiff every once in awhile, but from 100 feet I couldn't smell a thing," he said. "Not that it's a scientific study."
The Commission is taking care to choose very deliberate, targeted actions in anything involving the situation. Schneider said they are aware that litigation is likely regardless of what decision they make and that both sides have strong cases and feelings.
"We tried to be objective," Schneider said. "But this man seems very genuine and honest about what he intends to do."
Miller began building and operating poultry CAFOs in Iowa before selling them and moving to Missouri about four years ago. Two years ago he opened a CAFO in neighboring Knox County, and Schneider said there have been no complaints concerning smell.
Schneider discussed some plans Miller has for his farm. Because of increasing fertilizer prices, Miller wants to use the pig manure to fertilize his land, he said. Schneider said Miller mentioned the Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension program at the University of Missouri to commissioners, a program that teaches how to take samples of soil to calculate how much manure can be safely added to land without resulting in water polluting runoff.
He said Miller also mentioned the University's Nutrient Management Plan, though how these practices are put to use and who performs them or pays for them is unclear.
Schneider said Miller wants to use farming to support his family and sons who also work the land with him but that making a living off of farming is difficult. In order to make a living as a family farmer, John Mark Miller and sons have incorporated.
Miller could not be reached for comment.
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