subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite map
Mon, Nov 23 2009 

Resources

print this story   Print this story
email this story   E-mail this story
  Post to del.icio.us

Photos


Globe/T. Rob Brown Darvin Bentlage gestures in disbelief while questioning how regulations would allow the establishment of a confined-animal-feeding operation so close to his farm near Golden City.

Published March 01, 2008 05:32 pm - GOLDEN CITY, Mo. — Darvin Bentlage, like his father before him, has farmed the rich land west of Golden City for decades. The family has been at it nearly 60 years.

Missouri bills would restrict CAFOs, subject them to local approval



By Wally Kennedy

wkennedy@joplinglobe.com

GOLDEN CITY, Mo. — Darvin Bentlage, like his father before him, has farmed the rich land west of Golden City for decades. The family has been at it nearly 60 years.

But these days, when Bentlage gets in his truck to make the rounds of his 1,160-acre farm, he’s sees things he doesn’t like.

Despite local efforts to regulate them, hog CAFO’s — also known as confined- or concentrated-animal feeding operations — have arrived.

“They’re on every side of us now. Soon, we won’t be able to go outside and get a clean breath of fresh air,” he said. “That’s how they do it. That’s how they force people out and then get the land cheap to expand operations.”

His neighbor, Zach McGuire, sees it, too. He’s seen it before.

“My father had a hog and cattle farm near Tulsa (Okla.) The big hog CAFOs started coming in the late 1980s. They rallied the smaller farmers behind them at first, but those that weren’t large enough to accommodate the big feed trucks were basically forced out of business,” he said.

“The problem with Missouri is that it’s wide open for CAFOs. Missouri’s laws, when compared to other nearby states, permit far larger numbers of animals to be confined under one roof with little or no regulation,” he said.

“What these corporate farms can do with these small CAFOs, with just a few thousand animals, is put them right against their neighbor’s property line and drive them out to buy their land.”

Missouri proposals

A bill recently introduced by state Rep. Jeff Harris, D-Columbia, would give rural communities greater power to limit CAFOs near their property. House Bill 1931 would allow local residents to use the initiative-petition process to put approval of a proposed CAFO to a public vote.

Existing law only requires notification of those living within 4,500 feet of the proposed CAFO. Nor does the law require the Missouri Department of Natural Resources to take local opposition into account when reviewing a permit application.

Harris, who wants to be the Democratic nominee for Missouri attorney general, said, “This legislation will give the people forced to live with the smell, pollution and waste caused by a nearby CAFO a powerful voice in the licensing process.

“CAFOs ruin the property values of those who find themselves living next to one. Missouri must give local residents some of the power to decide where these corporate livestock factories are going to be allowed.”



print this story    email this story    comment on this story   

Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.


Add a comment on this story







autoconx
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide

Announcements



Click here to VOTE!!

Click here!!

: Special Offer For New Subscribers : 32 buy 1 get 1 free offers

Click Here!




Featured Jobs

CLASS A OVER THE ROAD DRIVERS
CLASS A OVER THE ROAD DRIVERS for team operations. Kansas City based, home weekly, all drop and hook. $.46/mile to the t...>MORE

ROUTE REPRESENTATIVE
Route REPRESENTATIVE Odor control and commercial hygiene service route. Monday-Friday. Benefits, incentives, company v...>MORE

CARE COMPANIONS FOR SENIORS
Care companions for seniors. CNA experience helpful but not necessary. Older workers please apply. Must be able to work ...>MORE

OPIES TRANSPORT
Opies TRANSPORT Now Hiring Over the Road Drivers with 2 years experience. 800-341-9963 www.opiestransport.com ...>MORE

EXPERIENCED TAX PREPARERS,
enrolled agents and CPAs. Make extra money after the holidays with very flexible scheduling and top pay working for the ...>MORE

TAX PREPARERS
needed in Joplin, Webb City, Carthage, and Neosho. Seasonal
FREE TRAINING
For more information, call 24 hour
...>MORE

EXPERIENCED FULL TIME AUTO TECH
EXPERIENCED Full time Auto Repair Tech for very busy repair shop! Apply at Iveys Service Center, 301 E. 7th, Joplin...>MORE

DRIVER LONG HAUL
Driver, long haul or regional, for small Joplin company, home weekly, good pay and benefits, must have 3 years verifiabl...>MORE

OWNER OPERATORS
with equipment for truck and trailer, drive in or reefer. 624-2755...>MORE

BRANCO ENTERPRISES, INC.
BRANCO ENTERPRISES, INC. General Contractor Accepting applications for the follow positions: Carpenter, Form Setter, C...>MORE

See all ads

Featured Transportation

CHRYSLER, 2001 TOWN
and Country Limited, excellent condition, power everything. $1000 below book, $3925. (417)623-2212 ...>MORE

TOYOTA, 2004 TACOMA,
double cab, 2x4, 3.4L V6, 61,000 miles, CD, bed liner, cover, $16,500. (417)437-0013....>MORE

MERCUR 2001 GRAND MARQUIS LS
mercury, 2001 Grand Marquis LS, 69,500 miles, $6800/offer. (417)214-3265....>MORE

CHEVROLET, 2005 2500 HEAVY-DUTY,
extended cab, 4x4, 1-owner, 58,000 miles, white/gray interior, excellent condition, $17,000. 417-548-2169, 417-392-0455....>MORE

VOLKSWAGEN 2006 CONVERTIBLE
Volkswagen 2006 convertible, 13,000 miles, perfect condition $15,500 206-6809...>MORE

PONTIAC 2001 GRAND AM GT
pontiac, 2001 Grand Am GT Coupe, 2 door, black, automatic, 4 shift bucket seats, moonroof, $3650. (417)434-5503....>MORE

LAND ROVER 2003 DISCOVERY
LAND ROVER, 2003 Discovery, 51,000 miles, all wheel drive, leather, heated seats all power new tires $9,500/best offer ...>MORE

FORD, 1993 TAURUS
ford, 1993 Taurus, cruise, tilt, air, nice, $1250. (417)434-7382....>MORE

FORD, 1996 EXPLORER,
4x4, sharp, $1650
full power, cold air, must see. 437-4424.
...>MORE

1993 120FL FREIGHTLINER
1993 120FL Freightliner, day cab, 572,541 miles, twin screw, 60 series Detroit, 9 speed Fuller, air ride and 2000 step d...>MORE

See all ads

Featured Homes

LEASE/PURCHASE
Executive Home, 4 br, 3 ba, 3000 sq. ft. on 5 acres. 605-521-0971...>MORE

3BR, ALBA
3 BR, 1 ba, 1 car gar, large fenced yard, Alba $550+ deposit. Hud ok 417-540-4674...>MORE

2 BR, 1 BA,
excellent location, 208 E. Lexington, Jasper, $325. (417)830-0873....>MORE

ATTRACTIVE 4 BR ORONOGO
attractive, comfortable 4 br, 3 ba, 2-level, 2600 sq. ft. home. Greystone Subdivision, $194,900. 103 Jason Blvd., Oronog...>MORE

Deerfield Estates
in Carl Junction, prime building sites, reduced $10,000 each. 417-825-0052...>MORE

525 E 41ST FOR SALE AT AUCTION
525 E. 41ST, Joplin, MO will be offered for sale at Auction
Saturday, December 5th 9:30 AM AAA Auctions Bob 417-
...>MORE

2802 MASSACHUSETTS, JOPLIN
2802 Massachusetts, Joplin You won't believe the price! 3 bedroom, new central heat and air, new roof, appliances.. Cl...>MORE

OPEN HOUSE SUNDAY 1-5 P.M.
OPEN HOUSE SUNDAY 1-5 p.m. New construction, 3 BR, 2 BA, 3 car garage, newer neighborhood, mature trees, 3 minutes from...>MORE

2 BR COTTAGE
2 BR COTTAGE, small but cute, all electric, small down, $450. Owner finance. 609 W. 15th. 417-439-4104....>MORE

See all ads

Other Cool Stuff

50CC 4 WHEELER
50cc 4-wheeler with remote kill, $350; dining room table and 4 chairs, $100; 3 year washer, dryer combination, $300; ant...>MORE

TILT UTILITY TRAILER
TILT UTILITY TRAILER, 5x8, heavy duty, $400. (417)624-4757....>MORE

GORGEOUS OAK POOL TABLE
GORGEOUS oak pool table, 2 inch slate, pearl inlays, bear claw legs; new rare neon beer sign. (417)483-6719....>MORE

12 GUN CABINET
12 GUN CABINET, 10 gun cabinet, new 10” miter saw; new 12” drill press. (417)359-5819....>MORE

COCKER SPANIEL PUPPIES
COCKER SPANIEL Puppies For SALE. Registered with shots, Buff Color. Call for Information (620)-856-1946...>MORE

PLASTIC LIGHT UP YARD
plastic light up yard decorations for all holidays! 620-362-3020 leave message....>MORE

NICE BEAGLE PUPS,
shots/wormed, $35/$40. Delivered? (417)439-3647...>MORE

2 ATV'S FOR SALE
FOR SALE: Two (2) 2004DS 650 Bombardier ATV's. Used as displays only - 0 hours. Red and black, perfect condition. Will s...>MORE

BUY NOW,
small down, rest with tax return, vet checked/shots, small Chihuahua’s. (417)439-3647...>MORE

KENMORE GAS RANGE
Kenmore gas range; G.E. portable dishwasher, $150 each; both are 3 years old (417)624-4546, (417)439-9740...>MORE

See all ads


 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.CNHI Classified Advertising NetworkCNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2009. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
View our Privacy Policy
Advertiser index

 

 

The Joplin Globe Electronic Edition