CAFO Proponents in Denial
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
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We have been in the state of trying to educate people about CAFOs since March. Letters to the editor were full of well-researched facts by independent organizations. These were not biased. Some were funded by charitable organizations. Scientists did the research and all came to the conclusion that we had a real problem with the CAFOs, the meat they produced and the manure they created. It was shown that the air around these facilities was hazardous to breath.
Our group was given about 25 minutes to plead our cause at an Area Plan Commission meeting. The group advocating CAFOs had as much time as they needed. Their information came from Purdue and other special interest groups who advocate CAFOs. They had an engineer, who is not licensed in the state of Indiana, give a lengthy speech. Their theme is, “Feed the world.” Our group also wants to feed the world but we want healthy products and clean air and water, to go with the whole picture. We want to have something left for future generations.
We are happy that the Area Plan Commission members think some research needs to be done, in the area of needing ordinances. We were told they were tired of the issue and nobody knew they had it on the agenda, this past week. Three of our members just decided to attend to the meeting to see how others are treated by the commission.
Low and behold, the CAFO ordinance issue was on the agenda. Two of our group were given five minutes to speak. Now, comes the hard part. The committee they are asking for is a good example of people who need to be involved but do they actually think we can all work together when we are at such a vast area of disagreement? Most of the pro-CAFO people dismiss anything the anti-CAFO people say. They are in denial.
I know of one gentleman who did take into consideration what his neighbors were saying to him and decided to move his proposed CAFO to another place where there was not as much adverse reaction. He said he wanted to be a good neighbor. I know of another CAFO proposer who has no care or consideration for any of the people around him whether it be business, churches or just residents.
The trend is for CAFOs to come in and small, traditional farms to be run out of business. We have many of these traditional farmers in our area and want to keep them. If they are forced to shut down, we all suffer.
I would like for the Area Plan Commission member who warned of a single interest group to define that group and tell us what he meant.
If you are asked to serve on this committee, please serve with the idea that Kosciusko County will be a better county if the right steps are taken to place realistic and beneficial ordinances.
Marjorie Vance
Claypool, via e-mail[[In-content Ad]]
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We have been in the state of trying to educate people about CAFOs since March. Letters to the editor were full of well-researched facts by independent organizations. These were not biased. Some were funded by charitable organizations. Scientists did the research and all came to the conclusion that we had a real problem with the CAFOs, the meat they produced and the manure they created. It was shown that the air around these facilities was hazardous to breath.
Our group was given about 25 minutes to plead our cause at an Area Plan Commission meeting. The group advocating CAFOs had as much time as they needed. Their information came from Purdue and other special interest groups who advocate CAFOs. They had an engineer, who is not licensed in the state of Indiana, give a lengthy speech. Their theme is, “Feed the world.” Our group also wants to feed the world but we want healthy products and clean air and water, to go with the whole picture. We want to have something left for future generations.
We are happy that the Area Plan Commission members think some research needs to be done, in the area of needing ordinances. We were told they were tired of the issue and nobody knew they had it on the agenda, this past week. Three of our members just decided to attend to the meeting to see how others are treated by the commission.
Low and behold, the CAFO ordinance issue was on the agenda. Two of our group were given five minutes to speak. Now, comes the hard part. The committee they are asking for is a good example of people who need to be involved but do they actually think we can all work together when we are at such a vast area of disagreement? Most of the pro-CAFO people dismiss anything the anti-CAFO people say. They are in denial.
I know of one gentleman who did take into consideration what his neighbors were saying to him and decided to move his proposed CAFO to another place where there was not as much adverse reaction. He said he wanted to be a good neighbor. I know of another CAFO proposer who has no care or consideration for any of the people around him whether it be business, churches or just residents.
The trend is for CAFOs to come in and small, traditional farms to be run out of business. We have many of these traditional farmers in our area and want to keep them. If they are forced to shut down, we all suffer.
I would like for the Area Plan Commission member who warned of a single interest group to define that group and tell us what he meant.
If you are asked to serve on this committee, please serve with the idea that Kosciusko County will be a better county if the right steps are taken to place realistic and beneficial ordinances.
Marjorie Vance
Claypool, via e-mail[[In-content Ad]]
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