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Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Ind. Gov't. - More on: Three CAFO bills to be heard by Senate committee today
Following up on yesterday's followup, check out this article from Hoosier Ag Today with Gary Truitt headed "Miller Backs More Inspections for Pork Operations." Some quotes:
“We need to be the first to point out a problem not the last” was the advice given to Indiana Pork Producers by Andy Miller, Director of the State Department of Agriculture. In a frank and to the point address at the group’s annual meeting on Tuesday, Miller warned producers that they need to be the ones to clean up the few “bad actors” in the state. With this in mind, he said his department is supporting Senate Bill 431 that increases the number of inspections of hog operations by the state and gives the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) the authority to revoke the permits of operations that repeatedly violate environmental regulations. Sponsored by Sen. Beverly Gard, the bill is currently before the Senate Environmental Committee.Miller also warned that the Indiana Pork industry is engaged in a fight to save Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs). He said there are well-funded and well-organized forces that are working hard to shut down CAFOs in the state. He told the gathering of about 50 producers that the Governor remains committed to the pork industry and will not support a bill, currently in the General Assembly, that would mandate a moratorium on CAFO construction.
Miller took the opportunity to announce that ISDA will be holding a series of Livestock Forums across the state. He said there is a great deal of mis-information about the livestock industry and these forums will be designed to inform County leaders and local citizens about the truth about livestock production in the state. Locations and dates will be announced in a few weeks.
Posted by Marcia Oddi on January 31, 2007 06:47 PM
Posted to Environment | Indiana Government