Editor, Times-Union: In response to Janet Collins letter to the editor on CAFOs I wanted to address a few things. First, thank you for your letter and concern. Second, I’m Pro-Life to clear the air. Here is the straight-shooter answer on CAFOs. In the beginning, I think any farmer who operates them will tell you there was a learning curve. Not due to the farmer, but from lopsided regulation or lack thereof. As with anything that we have done as Hoosiers, the beginning process is always a little fuzzy. After time, with proper funding and true understanding of the operations or venture, we dial our processes in. Janet, I will make sure all voices are heard in Indy. I will say though, our farmers have a big mission they are about to take on with the population growth. I will stand for each and every one of them. Do I have a Farm Bureau endorsement? No I do not. I’m endorsed from the teachings of Jesus and that’s all I need for any of the “issues” at hand. The reality about CAFOs is that right now it appears that Indiana Farmers have them under control. We now call them Confined Feeding Operations (CFOs). Farmers have the tools in place to properly manage the manure and wastewater that can negatively impact the environment and public health. While I believe, yes, the concentration of the wastes from these animals do increase the potential to impact air, water, and land quality. However, so does our energy consumption, our lack of properly recycling in households, and quite frankly our everyday living. To answer your question whether or not I would be willing to introduce legislation requiring these types of operations to be kept at a reasonable distance away from residences? My answer for any piece of legislation that will come across my desk is if after gathering all the facts – pros and cons – to everyone in the district, and it is determined we need to move forward with such an act, then yes. But if I was to base a vote off of opinions from newspapers (whose whole goal is to sell newspapers), and the EPA (whose whole goal is to enforce regulation that doesn’t provide a lot of facts) or from the internet, then no I will not. I would also like to add some insight about CFOs. For some reason, PETA and other organizations like them, seem to think those animals have it rough and it is inhumane how they are treated. I’m here to tell you, that couldn’t be more of a lie. The farms I’ve been on, those little pigs have it better than this Ranger did in many of the environments I’ve been in all over the world. That’s not a complaint but just fact. Thanks Janet for being a concerned voter. If you have any more questions or concerns please email hoosiervet22@gmail.com. Michael Stinfer Candidate for District 22 Indiana House of Representatives Warsaw, via email
