To the Editor:
Family farmers and rural residents need to know that Rep. Al Juhnke of Willmar is proposing legislation that will weaken environmental standards for the largest farms in our state. As a livestock farmer and registered nurse, that concerns me and I think it is wrong.
The situation at the Excel mega-dairy, which held more than 1,000 dairy cows near Thief River Falls, is one reason I think this is wrong. The manure lagoons at this operation hold 33 million gallons of liquid manure. The operation was shut down in part because it was polluting so badly that neighbors had to evacuate their homes. The problems had gone on for two years and the dairy violated air quality standards hundreds of times.
After the operators would not fix the problem, the permit the state used to finally shut the dairy down was their National Pollution Discharge Elimination System permit. This permit is part of the Federal Clean Water Act. Juhnke's legislation proposes that feedlots in Minnesota over 1,000 animal units would no longer be required to get this permit.
Even worse, in arguing for the bill, Juhnke held up the largest livestock operations that are over 1,000 animals units as "very good stewards" and the ones that shouldn't be required to get the NPDES permit. These are the largest 4 percent of feedlots in our state. He then said, "a lot of the smaller feedlots frankly are our biggest problems because of where they are located." No smaller feedlot has been declared a public health threat and forced neighbors to evacuate.
Right now the Excel Dairy manure lagoons still contain liquid manure and taxpayers may have to pick up the clean-up costs because our state doesn't require any bonding for these large farms. Instead of weakening state standards for large farms, we need to strengthen them. As chairman of the House agriculture finance committee, Juhnke should not be pointing his finger at the tens of thousands of smaller livestock farmers in our state in order to pass legislation that favors the largest.
Laura Bihl
Clearwater
Letters to the Editor
Letter: Juhnke passing false blame to pass proposal
Originally published in the April 16, 2010, print edition.
- Letters to the Editor
-
-
Letter: Coveting thy neighbor's stuff
Letter: Coveting thy neighbor's stuff
-
Letter: God is love - God loves Hispanics, too
Some think we should follow Arizona's horrible example. They call undocumented immigrants "criminals."
-
Letter: Research doesn't show organic foods are better
As a conventional beef producer, I take great satisfaction in producing beef that is a great value, and also safe, wholesome and nutritious.
-
Letter: Don't put pollution blame on small livestock farms
When talking about water pollution problems caused by livestock operations, Minnesota State Representative Al Juhnke of Willmar wants to blame our state's smaller livestock operations.
-
Letter: Juhnke passing false blame to pass proposal
Family farmers and rural residents need to know that Rep. Al Juhnke of Willmar is proposing legislation that will weaken environmental standards for the largest farms in our state. As a livestock farmer and registered nurse, that concerns me and I think it is wrong.
-
Letter: Encourage the weak to give them a chance
"You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong." However, we also must note that in order to encourage the weak you must give them a chance to have some opportunity to achieve a decent livelihood.
-
Letter: Scare tactics misrepresent ethanol’s impact
After watching the KSTP newscast on ethanol, I believe the newscasters seem to have torn a page from Orson Welles’ recipe on how to boost their audience numbers.
-
Letter: The rest of the organic, beef labeling story
Unlike the label “organic” — which requires you to be certified — the perception of what is “natural” has definitely been highjacked and is a totally misused and maligned at the meat counter.
-
Letter: ‘Socialism’ essential to farmers, American way of life
We farmers and our lobbyists have often made it quite clear to our legislators that socialism and its accompanying federal dollars are essential to our well-being.
-
Letter: Health care questions for Walz
Would you explain just how the bill saves money on health care when you add 50 million to the number to be taken care of. Do you ration the use of tests or procedures, expensive drugs, etc.?
- More Letters to the Editor Headlines
-
Letter: Coveting thy neighbor's stuff
