News
“Agri-Ready” county leaders support CAFO proposal
David Booker, western Cooper County, Missouri commissioner
Leaders of a Missouri county deemed “Agri-Ready” by the Missouri Farmers Care Coalition says they will NOT get in the way of a proposed swine farrowing operation, “I made it very clear that Cooper County was an Agri-Ready county and that Cooper County is driven by agriculture. And, on advice of counsel, we are not going to pursue a county health ordinance,” said western Cooper County Commissioner David Booker, who made his announcement at the county health board meeting Thursday night to a standing-room-only crowd of farmers, most of whom support the CAFO.
Todd Williams, veterinarian and co-owner of Pipestone, who has moved to central Missouri to be near the proposed swine operation, tells Brownfield the “Agri-Ready” designation made a difference, “The county itself, and also, as represented here tonight by the strong support of this, there are many people here that want to be in an agricultural county as well. And so, the moratorium or the health ordinances for this county would have changed their perspective and what they would have been capable of doing for their families in the future and the future of farming.”
County health board officials toured a Pipestone CAFO last week. The health board administrator then backed away from a moratorium that would have put the proposed Pipestone CAFO on hold. She says she will accept any concerns about the CAFO in writing and Williams says he will meet with landowners and work with them to alleviate any environmental concerns.
Brian Kleithermes, who owns a CAFO in Cooper County, told health board members last night they didn’t even know he existed until last week. There have been no complaints filed about his operations in the county.
Interview with Todd Williams:
…we do not have to reinvent the wheel…the citizens will soon feel the pain that so many towns, cities across the country now feel…this will not end well for you…! The EPA…the DNR…and you LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS do not have the “STONES” for the fight…this leaves only you and me…! What you might want to look into is this…WITHOUT YOUR RENTED LAND these giant megafarms could lose their permits…they will get all the animals and water they ask for…what they do not have is…ENOUGH LAND…YOUR LAND IS THE KEY…do some math and then get in front of this issue…the future of your county and your families depend on what you do next….MAN-UP…! If not….get a realtor…!