Local Specials
(2011-06-28)
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Hogs at High Power farm
There are plans for a development called "Shamrock Acres" in McDonough County.
It's not a subdivision and opponents say it will be anything but pleasant.
A 160-acre green expanse in El Dorado Township might soon be the home to at least 56-hundred hogs (opponents say as many as 18,000) on a farm operated by a company called Professional Swine Management.
Steve Ashwood farms nearby. He said neighbors are worried about ground-water contamination with so much livestock in such a small area.
His family members have taken the lead in in trying to stop Shamrock Acres. They organized neighbors into the group Rural Residents for Responsible Agriculture. It has about 60 members from McDonough County.
R-R-R-A can claim one victory so far. It convinced the county board to ask the Illinois Department of Agriculture to hold an informational hearing on the proposed hog farm.
The county board's vote came after the R-R-R-A mounted a letter-writing campaign and petition drive.
Steve Ashwood's daughter Loka said they needed 75 signatures to get the hearing. They got more than 200. She said, "People do not want this facility. Professional Swine Management has a history of pollution in five counties. They've been found guilty for pollution and sued by (Attorney General) Lisa Madigan in this county."
Bill Hollis is a a veterinarian and consultant for PSM. Hollis said the confinement buildings for the proposed Shamrock Acres site are similar to those at the High Power farm PSM operates south of Augusts. The hogs are allowed to wander freely in the buildings. The floors have narrow slits for the waste to fall through into concrete pits 10 feet deep.
Hollis said, "The building will actually be all in-ground storage and so 12 months of storage in-ground, on-site. in concrete containers on the facility."
Hollis also said operating a clean, efficient hog farm is in the interest of the owners since, "These producers are living in the same neighborhoods so many of the farms that we at Professional Swine Management currently operate are in the same area."
Hollis says the owners are 14 farmers. Most are in the Tri-States.
Animal waste from Shamrock Acres would be stored and spread on farm fields in the
spring and perhaps summer. It's a relatively cheap source of nitrogen and phosphorous for crops.
Farmer Steve Ashwood worries about leaks if the concrete pits crack. In addition, he is concerned heavy rainfall could wash manure into groundwater once it is spread on farm fields.
Ashwood depends on a shallow spring for drinking water and wants it to remain clean.
At least one expert believes Ashwood has little to fear. Dr. Mark Hoge of Western Illinois University's Ag Department says modern, well-designed confinement facilities pose little risk to wells or springs. "In a 100 percent concrete contained eight to ten foot deep pit the likelihood of runoff in those situations is really, really rare is in my opinion."
Hoge also says producers don't spread the animal waste on the surface of farm fields. He says the slurry is injected into the farmland rather than applied to the surface to reduce the odor and runoff risk.
Despite Hollis's assurances, there might be reasons for the Ashwoods to be concerned.
Professional Swine Management has been in trouble with the state. The company and Pinnacle Genetics settled a complaint from the Illinois Attorney General's office in early 2007. The two firms operated a 34-hundred hog facility north of Colmar. The companies split a 27-thousand dollar penalty and made changes at that operation to come into state compliance.
In addition, Professional Swine Management is a defendant in a lawsuit in Schuyler County. Hollis wouldn't comment on that case saying it's a pending legal matter.
The Illinois Department of Agriculture will hold a hearing on the proposed Shamrock Acres. Spokesman Jeff Squibb says the agency has no discretion when it comes to permits.
Large-scale, concentrated hog farms must meet eight criteria. If they do, the department must grant the permit.
Squibb says one-third of applications for large-scale livestock operations are rejected...which gives hope to Steve Ashwood and members of R-R-R-A.
Ashwood says he respects property rights. But he believes a few people should not be able to profit at the expense of others...his neighbors.
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