News
Missouri county to consider CAFO ordinance before state restrictions kick in
Moniteau County, Missouri, is proposing a health ordinance
that addresses concentrated animal feeding operations. The proposal mirrors the
ordinance in Howard County, according to Darrell Hendrickson, environment
health specialist for Moniteau County.
“It is somewhat more restrictive [than Missouri DNR regulations] on setback
distances,” Hendrickson told Brownfield Ag News Thursday. “That would be the
amount of distance that you can apply the waste to your ground.”
The proposal was in the works when the Missouri Legislature passed Senate Bill
391, said Hendrickson. That measure – signed in a ceremony this past Saturday,
and effective August 28 – prevents counties from passing ordinances more restrictive
than state statutes.
“If we do not have an ordinance on file by August 28th , we’ve lost
our ability to regulate CAFOs,” said Hendrickson. “August 29th I
cannot pass an ordinance because my statutory authority goes away.”
The proposal was a surprise and a disappointment to Moniteau County cattle producer
Andy Clay.
“My number one concern is that it’s opening the door for more regulation,” Clay
told Brownfield Ag News. “We are already regulated heavily by the state, so I
do not see the purpose of this ordinance.”
Hendrickson, with the Moniteau County Health Board, calls the regulatory
threshold high, meaning that most livestock operations will not need a permit.
He says the board will hear from both sides of the issue at the Moniteau County
Health Board meeting Monday at 5:00 P.M.
Missouri Cattlemen’s Mike Deering, who pushed for passage of Measure 391, is
urging Moniteau County cattlemen to attend the meeting.
Andy Clay plans to do just that.
“I have information, scientific information to present to them, that debunks
some of the information that they have received,” said Clay. “I’m also going to
share with them that I’m a 7th generation farmer and I hope to be
able to pass that on to the 8th generation.”
Thank you, Moniteau County, for showing that you care about your citizens, property rights, health and water quality. Extremely important that people come before profit, but many counties are not that considerate.