Foster County Planning & Zoning Board

~Citizens against the Mega-Dairy LOCATION ~

Join Us, and Prevent the STINK!

NOTICE:  Our concerned citizens meeting took place at the Armory in Carrington on February 12, 2008,  with approximately 40 people attending.  The main concerns addressed were: the location of the Mega-dairy and its closeness to Carrington and the Carrington aquifer... the possibility of it contaminating our ground water; the fact that we need stricter county regulations regarding large CAFO's (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations such as this Mega-dairy) that want to come to our area; that much of the planning for this proposed Mega-dairy in Carrington was done by some community leaders without notifying the general public. 

Read about a recent manure spill from a mega-dairy lagoon in Maryland.  Do we want to take a chance that something like this could happen to Carrington?

Manure spill could mean months of temporary water supply
Originally published

January 30, 2008
By Gina Gallucci - Frederick News-Post Staff - Maryland

WALKERSVILLE -- For town residents who remember the 1999 sewage spill that forced them to use a makeshift water supply for five months, this could be worse. Test results this week from untreated water show the levels of bacteria and E. coli are greater than in 1999, said Mike Marschner, director of the county's Division of Utilities and Solid Waste Management.

The contamination is the result of a manure lagoon pipe that burst last week, said town commissioner Chad Weddle. The burst actually created two spills, one on Jan. 22 and a second Friday night into Saturday morning.

This spill took about four days to infiltrate the town's water supply, compared to 1999 when it took nine days, Marschner said.

These findings were released during a press conference Tuesday afternoon at Town Hall. The meeting room was packed with media, town and county officials and concerned residents.

More...

Thursday, Jan. 31, 2008
Farmer apologizes for massive manure spill

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"One fear is that what happened in Walkerton, Canada, could happen in our community. In the small Ontario town, which is the site of several dairy farms, seven people died and 2,300 became ill  ...  after drinking water polluted with E. coli, a bacteria contained in cow manure. Cow manure washed into a nearby well after a heavy rain, causing the health crisis, says Peter Rehak, spokesperson for the Walkerton Inquiry, a public commission established to investigate the tragedy."

-Metro Times - Detroit-

What Is Running This Whole Controversy?

This controversy is very simple.  The local MEGA-dairy proponents stand to make money from the proposed Mega-dairy by selling property, building supplies, construction, feed, fuel and various products or services.  As well, the close farming neighbors stand to gain cheap fertilizer in the form of manure waste.

Out of county proponents include the State of North Dakota, their Agriculture Department and University Extension Service with their promotion of all things agri-business related.  They gain by re-enforcing the idea that the taxpayers’ money is being well-used to promote business in the state 

Various NGOs (non-government organizations), such as North Dakota Dairy Coalition, HWY281 Corridor, and others, have a stake in promoting this project because of the grants they receive from the state.

The usual legislative lobby groups such as Cattlemen’s Association, Farm Bureau and Dairy Association wish to promote the interests of the lobby group.

Lastly, there are the large corporations that will ultimately receive the production of the dairy.

All of these groups have the same reason in common for their pro-dairy position. That reason can best be summed up in three words... MONEY, MONEY, MONEY.

The other side has no monetary gain at stake.  Their potential monetary stake is one of certain loss of property values and the quiet enjoyment of their property.

The argument for the MEGA-dairy is completely driven by visions of money -- not the good of the entire community or rights of long-time citizens that will lose property values and the quiet enjoyment of their property.

This community will long suffer because of the deep division created by the single-minded purpose of money being more important than the rights of the citizens of our county.

Lastly, we should question the reason our state government, NGOs and the special interest lobby groups find it so important that this mega-dairy (CAFO) be created at this location.  The reason is simple.  There has been very little, if any, time in the history of the State of North Dakota that a local grass-roots organization has opposed a dairy or CAFO successfully.  They don’t believe we, the citizens of Foster County, have the right to reject the location.  How dare we reject the location or even question the idea of this ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT!

After all, who are we?   Just citizens in a small rural county in North Dakota...

Click here to print out a copy of the petition.

Near a Large Dairy in ID

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AS-1155
Scott Birchall, Livestock Waste Management Specialist

"One of the most important decisions when planning any livestock facility is site selection. The site for the feedlot operation must not only be suitable for housing, handling and feeding cattle, but also must ensure that surface and ground waters are protected and that the impact from odors is minimized. Whether you are planning a new facility or modifying an existing one, the following checklist may help avoid costly mistakes....

Odor
Minimizing the impact of odor on neighboring residents is a combination of:

~Recognizing the prevailing wind direction. In North Dakota, this is usually from the north west or south east (or north/south in the Red River Valley).
~Using topography to your advantage. Odor tends to "drain" down slope in the evening in summer.
~Reduce visual impact. Visual confirmation of dust is more likely to result in odor complaints. Windbreaks will also help break up odor plumes and provide stock protection.
~Providing a buffer distance to the neighbors. It is difficult to specify a particular buffer distance without taking into account the previous factors. Be aware that odors from some larger facilities have been detected 4 to 5 miles distant. Anyone planning a facility within 1 to 2 miles of neighboring dwellings will have to provide more detailed information on how they plan to minimize odor."

Read More...

(The above web site

-produced by the North Dakota State University
NDSU Extension Service-

is extremely informative about the precautions that should be taken regarding livestock waste management.  How does the proposed MEGA-dairy intend  to address these concerns?)

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When the wind blows across the MEGA-dairy lagoon and toward town, say good-by to outdoor family gatherings and visits on the front porch.