Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Email from Southern Alabama-Factory Farm

This is an email I received after requesting people write to me about their experience with factory farms. I hope I receive more. The more information we get out about people living next to one of these the better. Educate the public then maybe policy will change. I have removed the name to protect him from any backlash. Here is the letter...


I'm in south Alabama. My wife and I moved here in the Fall of 2000 when we bought 40 acres and an old house. I've been working on this house since then with a complete re-build. In 2003 we adopted a baby boy and had a baby girl 16 months later. So now, we have kids! There were poultry barns (CAFO's) north about three miles and a couple of small ones to the south, closest being 1.5 miles away. We could not smell chicken sewer unless we used some on our fields. Three years ago, a neighbor to the north and west of us put in 6-40 x 500 poultry barns. They hold around 27,000 chickens each. When a batch of chickens are ending, the stench from this outfit is nauseating. Then there is the incinerators burning. That is also gagging...This same neighbor bought 20 acres on my north side. Now he wants to put up 2 of the newer/larger barns that hold 44,000 birds each. These building and I suppose a "litter barn" are about 1000 ft. from my house. I've only been able to keep them from building because I own the land that the road to this property run on, or a portion of it. I'm guessing I'll not be able to prevent them from going in, but I'm doing what I can. If these get built, I must move to protect the health of my children. There is much evidence that there is no good to come from the emissions from these and other CAFO's. Not only are they nasty, unhealthy and just plain disgusting, but they also degrade property values and quality of life. Now, I feel that a person should be able to do what they want on their property. But, when what they are doing crosses property lines and starts to impinge and deny me the use of my own property, that is just plain wrong. There are times when you can't stand to be outside from the smell. Worse is, it is worse in the early morning or early evening. The best time to get out and work. Anyhow, until we in this country get a handle on this corporatism we will never have the liberty guaranteed us in the Constitution. If you write a story, you are welcome to use my situation, but please no names until this "problem" of mine is settled.

And a second email from him...

I believe I was mistaken on the size of the poultry houses going in next to me. I'm not sure of the size, but they are big. From what I understand, each building will hold 44,000 birds. I don't believe that the poultry CAFO's smell as bad as hogs and confinement feeding operations, they still are very upsetting.


Please write to your representatives to get these lax laws changed. Most media is owned by only a few corporations. The word will not get out through them.


"You may never know what results come of your action, but if you do nothing, there will be no result." Mahatma Gandhi

4 comments:

jaz@octoberfarm said...

this is just horrible. it really makes you rethink eating chicken! all this bad animal karma. if they have to have these cafos then there should be a law concerning distance between these facilities and residences. maybe you could push for a zoning change! so sorry about this barb! joyce

The cottage by the Cranelake said...

Terrible, terrible! You really must make as much noice as You can about this so they get afraid and don´t start this CAFO near Yours!
Christer.

Deborah Niemann said...

How sad. I wish him a lot of luck.

Irritated Farmer said...

Well, I've moved to TX from AL. Bought 100 acres in NE TX where there a no CAFO's for 10 miles. After closing on the property, we find out that Rose Acres Farms are planning on putting in a 2.5 million layer farm 1.5 miles from my property line. They claim that these outfits do not smell. I sure hope not. I do not want to move again, and all my retirement $ is now spent. And I need to sell what I left in AL. I just wish that people could see where their food comes from!