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MO ag group hails finding for hog farmer

A circuit court has ruled in favor of a northeast Missouri hog farmer and against the county where he wanted to expand. Gavin Hauk was denied a permit to put a new 49-hundred-head hog facility in Scotland County based on a County Health Ordinance, which bans any new confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs) from within two miles of populated areas.

The court ordered the county to pay damages of more than 178-thousand dollars to Hauk for “delayed construction and lost revenue.”

Don Nikodim, Chairman of the Missouri Farmers Care Coalition, tells Brownfield this should send a message to other counties that try to restrict CAFO’s through local health ordinances on farming practices that are proven safe for animals, people and the environment.

“We know zoning of agriculture is against the law in Missouri and we full well know that’s their intent,” Nikodim tells Brownfield Ag News, The health is not the issue and I think most of ‘em are aware of that. So maybe this will send a message that there are people (farmers) that are going to challenge it and if we’re going to go this route then they need to be prepared to deal with the outcome.”

The Scotland County Court also found that the County Commission had ignored its own ordinance by issuing Hauk a dozen earlier permits. It ordered the county to issue a permit to him so he can proceed with his plans.

 

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