|
|
Published October 15, 2008 09:24 pm - LAMAR, Mo. — A conference on the environmental and agricultural impact of concentrated animal feeding operations attracted 100 people this week to Thiebaud Auditorium in Lamar.
Area conference targets large livestock operations
Jim Moss 10/15/08 pullout at bottom
By Wally Kennedy
wkennedy@joplinglobe.com
LAMAR, Mo. — A conference on the environmental and agricultural impact of concentrated animal feeding operations attracted 100 people this week to Thiebaud Auditorium in Lamar.
Darvin Bentlage, a farmer who has been critical of hog CAFOs in Barton County, organized the meeting in a way that restricted debate on the topic until after the meeting had concluded.
Leslie Holloway, spokeswoman for the Missouri Farm Bureau, said the approach Tuesday night did not give those attending the conference an opportunity to hear all sides of the issue.
Speakers were critical of what they said is the inability of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources to protect the state’s natural resources from the manure associated with factory farms.
They said the DNR, which is charged with permitting and regulating the state’s largest CAFOs, is much too cozy with corporate agriculture. They said the department should be doing more to prevent pollution through aggressive enforcement instead of responding to it at taxpayer expense after the damage already has taken place.
They said new setback standards are needed to protect state parks and historic sites, and to protect traditional family farmers from CAFOs that are placed too close to their homes. They said traditional family farmers would be more concerned about CAFOs if they knew that the equity they have in their farms is placed at risk when CAFOs are established near their farms.
Holloway, with the Farm Bureau, said she attended the meeting on behalf of local Farm Bureau members. She said that by not permitting questions to be asked until after the meeting concluded, the organizers were able to spread “a lot of misleading information. We did not have an opportunity to comment about the information that was presented.”
In response, Bentlage said: “If they want to rent the facility and debate us, bring it on. It was not the intent of this meeting to debate them, which would have given them an opportunity to disrupt the meeting.
“We’ve already heard what they’ve got to say. It was our turn to present the facts that they don’t want people to know about. They don’t want people to know that the information against CAFOs is building and building.”
Holloway said a key issue that was misrepresented by the speakers is the impact of CAFOs on property values. The speakers cited a study by an agricultural economist with the University of Missouri-Columbia as the source of the information.
“We’ve seen that information before — that property values can decrease by up to 88 percent,” Holloway said. “They have used that on several occasions. The researcher who did the study that they are citing as the source of that information has sent us a memo that says what they are saying does not represent the findings of his report.
“He said they cannot draw that conclusion from his report. That is one example of the kind of misrepresentation that was evident during that meeting.”
•
Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.
|
|
Announcements



: Special Offer For New Subscribers
:


 |
|
EXPERIENCED TAX PREPARERS,
enrolled agents and CPAs. Make extra money after the holidays with very flexible scheduling and top pay working for the ...>MORE
OPIES TRANSPORT
Opies TRANSPORT Now Hiring Over the Road Drivers with 2 years experience. 800-341-9963 www.opiestransport.com ...>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
ROUTE REPRESENTATIVE
Route REPRESENTATIVE Odor control and commercial hygiene service route. Monday-Friday. Benefits, incentives, company v...>MORE
BODY TECHNICIAN
Carthage AUTO PLAZA is looking for a body technician/painter. I-Car certification is required. Come by and fill out an a...>MORE
LOCAL YARD WORK
1ST SHIFT We are a specialized carrier seeking an individual at our Baxter Springs, KS location. Duties include F...>MORE
WALLER TRUCK COMPANY
Waller Truck Company is now seeking Company and Lease Drivers. Call Recruting today at 1-800-821-2196 or apply today onl...>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
TRAVEL U.S.A.
TRAVEL U.S.A. Publication sales company hiring 18 sharp enthusiastic individuals to travel the U.S. Travel, training, l...>MORE
OWNER OPERATORS
with equipment for truck and trailer, drive in or reefer. 624-2755...>MORE
See all ads |
|
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
MERCUR 2001 GRAND MARQUIS LS
mercury, 2001 Grand Marquis LS, 69,500 miles, $6800/offer. (417)214-3265....>MORE
JEEP, 2007 COMMANDER,
loaded, 22,000 miles, $12,950. 417-781-1409, 529-5606...>MORE
PONTIAC, 2005 AZTEK
Pontiac, 2005 Aztek, all wheel drive, V-6, 65,000 miles, DVD, great mpg, loaded, excellent condition. $9800/trade. 624-3...>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
CHEVROLET 1998 S10
Chevrolet, 1998 S10, 4 cylinder, 5 speed, high miles, $1750. 417-214-0022....>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
TOYOTA 1994 T100
TOYOTA, 1995 T100, extended cab, 4x4, high miles, $3950. (417)843-2613....>MORE
TOYOTA, 2004 TACOMA,
double cab, 2x4, 3.4L V6, 61,000 miles, CD, bed liner, cover, $16,500. (417)437-0013....>MORE
DODGE 1997 DAKOTA
dodge, 1997 Dakota extended, automatic, cruise, air, nice, $3650 firm. 434-7382...>MORE
See all ads |
|
LEASE/PURCHASE
Executive Home, 4 br, 3 ba, 3000 sq. ft. on 5 acres. 605-521-0971...>MORE
2 BR, 1 BA,
excellent location, 208 E. Lexington, Jasper, $325. (417)830-0873....>MORE
Deerfield Estates
in Carl Junction, prime building sites, reduced $10,000 each. 417-825-0052...>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
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
3BR, ALBA
3 BR, 1 ba, 1 car gar, large fenced yard, Alba $550+ deposit. Hud ok 417-540-4674...>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
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
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 |
|
TILT UTILITY TRAILER
TILT UTILITY TRAILER, 5x8, heavy duty, $400. (417)624-4757....>MORE
CLOSE OUT PRICES
close OUT prices on beads, jewelry, and Longaberger products. Bring this ad for 10% off beads and jewelry. Saturday, Nov...>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
BOXER PUPPIES
BOXERS PUPPIES, registered, parents on site, $200. 918)257-4153....>MORE
ROTTWEILERS
ROTTWEILERS,champion bloodlines. Dachshunds and Boxers. All AKC 918-784-2652, 918-541-8800...>MORE
YORKIES AKC
Yorkie, AKC, 2 adorable males, 3 1/2 months, current shots. 620-762-0445...>MORE
PLASTIC LIGHT UP YARD
plastic light up yard decorations for all holidays! 620-362-3020 leave message....>MORE
(2) AWESOME
6 month La-Z-Boy plush big mans swivel rocker recliners, $195 each; 19” thick pillow top king mattress, box springs, bra...>MORE
YORKIE WORLD HOLIDAY SALE
Yorkie WORLD. HOLIDAY SALE Males $150-$250; females, $350 and up. 417-258-7171....>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
See all ads |
|
 |
|