Contact: Linette Heydt: 507-477-2600; Earl and Shirley Bowman 507-374-2307; Kim Bowe 507-477-3409

7/22/03
DODGE CENTER, Minn.- Supervisors in Dodge County's Ashland Township voted unanimously on July 21 to adopt an interim ordinance for feedlots. The interim ordinance puts on hold, until July of 2004, construction of feedlots over 900 animal units, as well as the construction of earthen manure lagoons. A dozen local residents attended the meeting, all in support of the supervisors' action.

"We are very pleased with our supervisors for listening to the people and taking action to protect citizens from unwanted development," said Linette Heydt, an Ashland Township business owner and Land Stewardship Project member. "Recent factory farm proposals in Dodge County have heightened our concerns about the safety and welfare of residents and family farmers."

During the past few months, 144 residents of the township signed a petition asking the supervisors to adopt an interim ordinance to protect the citizens from the negative impacts of factory farms. Some of these impacts, which have been documented in other areas, include damage to roads, lowered property values and environmental problems, as well as threats to human health, safety and general quality of life.

The Ashland supervisors will now appoint a committee comprised of township residents who will gather information and begin evaluating what type of development the community is best suited for and what guidelines should be in place.

"With an interim ordinance we can now move ahead and develop balanced and reasonable guidelines that are good for family farmers, community residents and the land," said Earl Bowman, an Ashland Township farmer and Land Stewardship Project member. "We're doing grassroots work to ensure a good future for our community and our supervisors have responded appropriately."

The interim ordinance affects only the development of feedlots over 900 animal units, the construction of earthen manure lagoons, and the construction of all manure storage facilities capable of holding the waste of 900 animal units or more. It does not apply to existing facilities or repairs, renovations or replacement of exiting structures. Before the interim ordinance was passed, the size limit on feedlot construction in the township was 3,000 animal units. Nine hundred animal units equals 643 mature dairy cows or 3,000 market hogs. Three thousand animal units equals 2,143 mature dairy cows or 10,000 market hogs.

The interim ordinance will temporarily halt construction of all feedlots over 900 animal units, including a controversial 2,100-head dairy operation proposed in the township by a New Jersey investor, which the Minnesota Department of Agriculture has been promoting despite strong local opposition.

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