Apr 12, 2006 6:12 pm US/Central
Winona Co. Board Approves Hog Feedlot
Winona, Minn. (AP) ―
By a slim margin, the Winona County Board has approved a large-scale, confined-hog feedlot.
The 2,400-hog feedlot, which will be in the Wiscoy Valley of southern Winona County, was given the go ahead for a conditional-use permit with a 3-2 vote Tuesday.
Farm owner Greg Smith intends to put up two new structures to consolidate his operations now contained by six older buildings.
Opposition to Smith's proposal caused the permit to go through two planning and zoning meetings and three county board meetings, rather than the usual one of each.
Critics contend that the feedlot will smell bad and could taint ground water.
Jim Riddle, who lives close to Smith's operation, said hog odors are worse than those from cows. The smell will travel down the valley from the ridge where the feedlot will sit, he said.
Commissioners who backed the plan said the consolidation would put the animals in buildings with up-to-date specifications.
Board member Dwayne Voegeli said he won't approve any more feedlots until the planning department reconsiders its process for making such approvals.
Like Voegeli, Smith wasn't pleased with the process. "The process needs to be more predictable," he said.
(© 2006 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
