News

Missouri DNR approves Pipestone Veterinary Clinic CAFO

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources issued an operating permit to Pipestone Veterinary Clinic’s Tipton East concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) to be located at Clarksburg, Missouri.

A news release from the DNR says the application from the facility showed they comply with the Missouri Clean Water Law and with Missouri Clean Water Commission regulations.

Missouri Pork Association Executive Director Don Nikodim tells Brownfield the CAFO will bring jobs and a tax base.

“The track record speaks pretty clearly,” said Nikodim.  “There’s a number of these kinds of facilities across the state and in other states as well, and where they’re at, the response has been extremely positive, so we anticipate this one to be much the same.”

Pipestone Systems plans to build a 7000-sow CAFO in Cooper County, Missouri.  The proposal created divisions between people who support the move and those concerned about the number of hogs in one location.

The Pipestone farrowing operation would employ 17 people full-time, plus others part-time, to produce 160,000 weaned piglets annually, using $1.7 million dollars’ worth of locally sourced feedstuffs, according to Pipestone.

The department says anyone who wants to appeal the granting of the permit can do that by July 19.