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Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Environment - Neighbors pack zoning board meeting to support CAFO expansion
An AP story this morning out of Anderson reports:
A farmer presented plans to triple his dairy cow herd to 6,000 as part of a concentrated feeding operation -- an idea that met with no opposition from neighbors and other residents in a packed boarding zone meeting.
Plans for similar concentrated animal feeding organizations, or CAFOs, have met stiff resistance from residents across Indiana and elsewhere.But on Tuesday, the Madison County Board of Zoning Appeals heard a proposal by Willemsen Dairy LLC to expand its dairy and livestock operation near Frankton, about 40 miles northeast of Indianapolis.
Founder Tejo Willemsen has a dairy cow herd now of about 1,800. He and his wife, Alberdine, moved to the United States from the Netherlands six years ago, breaking ground on his Frankton farm on July 5, 2001. * * *
"I manage my farm with passion, care and pride," Willemsen said.
When BZA Chairwoman Mary Jane Baker asked for supporters in the nearly full room to stand, almost everyone did and no one spoke in opposition.
Posted by Marcia Oddi on July 25, 2007 08:52 AM
Posted to Environment