Hearings to be held Wednesday on Woodford hog farms

By MATT BUEDEL

of the Journal Star - Illinois

Posted Aug 05, 2008

EUREKA — Woodford County residents will get their chance Wednesday to raise a stink - or at least air their concerns - about three hog farm proposals the Illinois Department of Agriculture is currently considering.

At the request of the Woodford County Board, the state Agriculture Department will host a hybrid informational meeting and forum on the expansion of two existing facilities and the construction of a third that together would elevate the county's swine population by more than 9,000 animals.

"When facilities of 1,000 animal units or greater are proposed, then the public is entitled to an informational meeting," said Agriculture Department spokesman Jeff Squibb. "They can certainly give their opinion."

But only comments specific to the siting criteria by which the state judges hog farm proposals will be considered in the department's deliberations.

Many of the guidelines are spelled out in the Livestock Management Facilities Act, but other technical areas the state can consider include odor mitigation proposals and the compatibility of the hog farm with community plans for growth, economic development or other specific projects.

"To the extent that a person's comments are based on the siting criteria, then they are taken into consideration whenever we go to reach a decision," Squibb said.

The Department of Agriculture does not issue a permit for the facilities, but developers need approval from the state before construction can begin.

The three proposals include two expansions of existing facilities operated by New Horizons Pork near Roanoke and Washburn. Both facilities currently house about 2,400 swine. Additions of 20,000-square-foot facilities at each site would double the capacity, adding up to 4,800 animals between them.

The new construction proposed by AJ&J Farms a couple of miles northwest of Roanoke would house up to 4,800 hogs.

Representatives from both companies will attend the meetings today to detail their plans and answer questions from the Agriculture Department and the public.

"Usually the way the meetings go, they start off with me giving an overview of the process, and then the applicant will give details of what's being proposed," said Warren Goetsch, bureau chief of environmental programs at the Illinois Department of Agriculture, who will represent the state at the hearings. "These are three separate proposals and will be treated that way."

The meetings begin at 1 p.m. at the Woodford County Courthouse Annex and are scheduled to last three hours apiece. The Agriculture Department generally rules on proposals within 45 days of the hearings.

pjstar.com