An eager reader sends an update from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources listing seven pending Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) applications that are open for public comment:
| Facility | Description | Location | Comment Deadline | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Silverlake Hutterian Brethren Inc | New Animal Feeding Operation | Clark County | 07/28/2017 | Public Notice |
| Allen Andrews Swine Facility | New Swine Feeding Operation – State Permit | Union County | 08/19/2017 | Public Notice |
| Rolland Colony | Expanding Animal Feeding Operation – State Permit | Brookings County | 08/19/2017 | Public Notice |
| Wolf Creek Colony | Expanding Animal Feeding Operation – State Permit | Hutchinson County | 08/19/2017 | Public Notice |
| Valley View Farms, Inc. | Expanding Animal Feeding Operation – State Permit | Codington County | 08/20/2017 | Public Notice |
| Hutterville Colony | Expanding Animal Feeding Operation – State Permit | Brown County | 08/20/2017 | Public Notice |
| Dakota Plains Dairy – Site #2 East | New Animal Feeding Operation – NPDES Permit | Lincoln County | 08/26/2017 | Public Notice |
The first six, all applying for state CAFO permits, all appear to be local operations. The seventh application, Dakota Plans Dairy, which is applying for a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System general permit for a new 7200-head dairy facility seven miles northwest of Beresford, comes from Tim Den Dulk of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Dakota Plains Dairy organized in 2013 and started with a $35-million, 4,250-head dairy near Canton. Lincoln County voters did not resist the county’s finding that that first Dakota Plains Dairy CAFO would increase property values and create no environmental nuisance, nor did they overturn Lincoln County’s approval of this second CAFO.
Lincoln County voters consider wind turbines almost as offensive as 7200 head of dairy cattle. While DPD 2 must be 0.675 mile back from residential buildings, Lincoln County voters just deemed that wind turbines must be 0.5 mile away from any habitable structures.
Before anyone comments here, please be aware that any negative comments will be construed as anti-ag. With that being said, do the neighbors know what’s going on? Do they realize the ramifications of that much manure in their neighborhoods? tiled fields? the odor issue? the air pollutant issues? the lowering of property values? The ‘true’ economic impact? Road issues? Personal property rights issues? If they do, and still want such a facility, fine. But get the facts, please.
And speaking of being anti-ag…let’s say that I wouldn’t have a Chevy truck in my yard, does that mean I’m anti-truck? (And don’t start a fight on truck types, please!) A person can be anti-CAFO without being anti-ag; CAFO’s are just one segment of the ag environment, as Chevys are just one part of the automobile industry.
I love bacon and electricity. But I’m pretty sure CAFOs require far more environmental caution than wind turbines.
Should have little trouble in passing as most are colonies that already have slave labor within the colony, they also have plenty of money so getting the go ahead should be no problem with the powers to be.
“Property values in the immediate vicinity will be positively impacted based on the agricultural economic impact generated by the required feed and forage inputs and the need for appropriate housing.” County Commission Staff comment regarding Dakota Plains’ original 4,250 head dairy.
If a 4,250 head dairy increases neighboring property values, imagine how much property values will go up when a 7,200 CAFO moves nearby! The neighbors really hit the jackpot with this one!
A residence at 0.67 miles from this dairy will likely be annoyed by the odor at least 10% of the time. Not something I would look forward to. What may be equally disconcerting is the welfare of the people that will have to work this dairy 8 or more hours a day five or more days a week.
I’ll bet workers at a wind farm make more than workers at a dairy.