Posted on 09/28/2011 11:14:23 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin
MAGNOLIA, WI — John Adams can’t see the nearly 3,000 cows on the dairy farm two miles from his Wisconsin home, but when the wind blows he can smell them.
The stench gives him and his wife headaches. They blame the big farm for contaminating their air and polluting the groundwater well they use for drinking, bathing and watering their garden. They no longer feel safe eating the vegetables they grow.
Adams also blames the state, which requires local governments to grant permits to large farms that meet certain limited criteria, even if there are additional environmental concerns. The rural farming town where he lives tried to impose stricter rules, only to be overruled by the state agriculture department.
Adams and seven neighbors, along with the town of Magnolia, sued the state and the farm in the first case of its kind to reach a state supreme court and the result could set a precedent throughout the Midwest. Similar cases have been filed in Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio and Oklahoma, and two juries in Missouri have already handed out multimillion-dollar awards to homeowners who complained of intolerable odors from so-called factory farms.
At the same time, several states have passed or are considering laws that would make it easier for big farms to get permits. Lawmakers say the move creates uniformity, allowing farms to expand under predictable circumstances, and strengthens one of the few industries that didn’t tank in the recession.
Critics argue the laws deprive residents of a voice.
“A township should have the right to establish guidelines to keep its people safe, but it doesn’t,” said Adams, 61. “Those of us who are being affected, it’s like there’s nothing we can do.”
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Blame. A liberal tradition from birth.
I’m sorta curious if this dairy farming community sprang up around Mr. Adams’ house, or if he built his house in an established dairy farming community and is now whining about being in a dairy farming community.
Who was there first—Mr. Adams or the 3,000 cows?
If one doesn’t like the smell of a farm then move stupid.
There is plenty of housing available in Detroit.
The same people will complian about the pric of food after they’ve driven the small farmers out of busines. Why did you move to the area, Mr. Adams? Stay in urban areas, where you have no organic odors, but you have lots of crime, high property taxes and all the other wonderful things associated with crowded suburbian.
Applying the same standards to air ~ (at least with respect to the prevailing wind) ~ the farmer could be required to retain his emissions and dispose of them differently.
A few wiseguys out there running 10,000 hogs in a 100X60 ft barn certainly bulge the envelope but they also attract the attention of the state legislature.
At the moment a few guys with a few thousand cows are doing all the attracting, but it won't take but 10 minutes and that first factory hog farm will open up UPWIND of all the feeding station employees, their families, and their schools.
That's how they do it in the Midwest.
3,000 cows is NOT a small farm.
“Here we go...”
Something wrong with letting the locals decide if they want mega-dairies, or hog operations, or chicken houses, or whatever industrial agri-business operation next door or not?
Same here. We're one of 13 or so homes in a pocket of a farming/recreational area. The neighbor behind me has a horse & mule, and cows are just down the street. The dust is pretty heavy but THEY were here first. We accept the cons along with the pros of living where we are, and believe me the pros far outnumber. :)
Move.
People who choose to live near a farm need to understand that farms have animals. Animals make funny sounds and smells. If you cannot tolerate sounds and odors from farms, live elsewhere.
Blame your housing developers for not informing you. The farm and farmers were already there before you arrived.
I grew up near Midland, Michigan ... home of Dow Chemical Company. We lived probably about 12 miles upstream on the Tittabawassee River from the plant, and I can remember going out the back door to school in the morning and the smell would sometimes be enough to knock you over. My dad used to say, “Well, Dow’s making money this morning ...”
Seems Br'r Larson likes to send his manure down the creek and let somebody else handle it.
His kids will get beat up a lot I am sure.
That’s not the issue in this case.
This MUST be taken seriously!!
Video of relevant protest.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWBUl7oT9sA
Lilly has a lot of urine to boil. You can ask Mitch Daniels about it.
Made the wrong turn and it took me forever to get back out on the interstate ...
Race Day ~ Bwahahahahahaha
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