Public hearing on Iowa Select CAFO slated for next Monday
The ongoing discussion about the proliferation of hog confinements in the county has two variations, depending on who’s feeding the hogs. County residents are rather tolerant when it’s local producers looking to improve their bottom line or create opportunities for their children to work in agriculture. When the profit will go to “outsiders” the conversation is less cordial.
The Greene County supervisors will likely hear the less cordial version at a public hearing next Monday to consider a CAFO proposed for Section 19 of Bristol Township. Granite Farms IV LLC proposes to build Felix Finisher with two 2,500-head buildings. Granite Farms will feed for Iowa Select Farms of Iowa Falls.
The application lists William Foley, chief financial officer of Iowa Select Farms, as manager of Felix Finisher. Keith Kratchmer, environmental compliance officer at Iowa Select Farms, is listed as contact person.
Darrell Hunt of New Modern Concepts of Iowa Falls was at the supervisors Aug. 1 meeting to answer questions about the application.
The master matrix scored 460 points, with 440 required by the Iowa Department of Natural Resource for approval of a construction permit. The supervisors said little about the master matrix, but noted that it does include a closure plan. There were no points taken for landscaping, another item along with a closure plan, that the supervisors have looked for in other recent applications.
Granite Farms IV has three other sites in Greene County – one in Bristol Township and two in Cedar Township. Board chair John Muir reminded Hunt that the supervisors had suggested trees be planted at the Bristol Township site on H Ave, and none are planted yet. “I realize you don’t take points for that, but we still encourage it. Other sites have trees and it helps some. The old ‘out of sight, out of mind’,” Muir said.
Muir asked Hunt if Iowa Select is looking for more CAFO sites. Hunt’s answer was simple: “Yes.”
Muir asked if there is ever discussion at Iowa Select of hitting a threshold of CAFOs. Hunt said that in most cases, it’s farmers that start the process. “We don’t go out soliciting them as much as they come to us. There’s been discussion of at what point in time it becomes enough. I don’t know the answer. You look at other counties and there’s a lot more buildings than what there is in Greene County, but what determines that, I don’t know,” Hunt said.
“We’re aware of how these contribute to our county, but we’re also aware that there will be a saturation point,” Muir said.
County zoning coordinator Chuck Wenthold told the supervisors that as of July 28, there were 88 registered hog confinements in the county, and another seven registered cattle confinements. Carroll County has 148 registered hog CAFOs and 59 registered cattle confinements. There are 54 registered hog CAFOs in Webster County and 34 in Boone County.
The public hearing of Felix Finisher is Aug. 8 at 9 am. Byron Paup, who lives 3/4 mile south of the proposed site, has already sent written comments expressing concerns about odor. By Iowa Code, the DNR will approve the construction permit if the master matrix meets the minimum 440 points. The supervisors have very little power to block construction.
The construction permit application and master matrix are posted on the Greene County website, www.co.greene.ia.us.
