Pigs, not odors, are the ones confined at hog lots

Published Tuesday, September 11, 2007

There were several facts which Mr. Roth didn't mention is the article about the Pigs R Us, LLC hog confinement barns proposed for the northeast portion of Otter Tail County. Mr. Roth stated that the barns were confinement barns, and insinuated that the smell might also be confined.

But it's the hogs which are confined, not the odors. Mr. Roth failed to mention that the manure from the hogs is usually spread on neighboring land to use as fertilizer. He also failed to mention that the odor is so putrid, that it must be drilled into the soil, rather than spread on the top. And that practice certainly does not eliminate the odor.

Mr. Roth also failed to mention the conditions under which these hogs are raised. After hearing a farmer friend mention that he had loaded hogs that morning, and only lost two hogs, I questioned him about this.

He replied that the hogs in a confinement barn have such underdeveloped hearts and lungs from the lack of exercise, that several die each time they load the hogs. They can't climb the loading chute because of their condition. I definitely enjoy eating pork, but must these animals be raised in such deplorable conditions?

Mr. Roth mentioned several jobs which would be created by the confinement barns & made these jobs sound somewhat appealing.

However, he failed to mention the danger involved in working in these conditions.

According to an article by John Shutske of the University of MN extension service (from the Morgan Messenger, Aug. 29 issue), the danger is very real. He writes, “In early June, a tragic incident involving the toxic air in a manure pit in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley killed five people, including a farmer, his wife and two young daughters. Similar incidents have happened in Minnesota.”

Incidentally, I knew a fellow from our small home town who was asphyxiated, lost consciousness and fell into the pit. He aspirated some of the manure and died three days later, leaving his wife to raise their three children alone. Shutske explains, “Manure held for a period of time in an enclosed pit generates a range of toxic gases. Among these is hydrogen sulfide, a deadly gas that can be fatal with a few breaths in a high enough concentration.

The Virginia incident was attributed to methane, another dangerous by-product of manure decomposition, though the incident probably occurred because methane and other gases can displace oxygen, causing asphyxiation.” With this knowledge, these $12 per hour jobs look a little less appealing.

Five years ago, my husband and I discovered this breathtaking area of Minnesota, fell in love with the area and decided to make our home here. We moved from the southwestern part of the state. The area we moved from has experienced an explosion of growth of confinement barns.

No matter where you go in the area, and no matter which way the wind is blowing from, you can always smell the hog confinement barns. One does not realize how precious fresh air is, until you've experienced the constant smell of manure and chemicals being spread on the fields. There are so few areas left with good air quality. The metro areas are inundated with exhaust fumes, and the agricultural areas smell of manure and chemicals.

But Otter tail County smells of lakes, wildflowers and freshly mown hay. Once that smell changes, we will never recover what we once had. If one confinement barn is allowed, there's no stopping construction of more. Otter Tail County is setting precedents with this decision. This not only affects neighbors of the proposed barns, it affects all of us. You and I could find ourselves surrounded by these barns.

Mr. Roth mentioned the taxes generated by the operation, but has he considered the tax base which might be lost in Otter Tail County, if people can't come here to escape the odors, and noises of some other areas of the state. If tourism is lost or impaired, what will happen to our tax base then?

Otter Tail County is one of the most beautiful areas in Minnesota. This area is a gift and it's a privilege to be able to live here. Let's be good stewards of the land and keep it that way.

Pat Johnson - Underwood

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