July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Is there a solution? (03/06/07)
Letter to the Editor
To the editor:
After reading the editorial by Loria Pursifull in the Feb. 22, 2007 issue of the Commercial Review, I mulled the information about CAFOs around in my mind before sending my own views on the matter. I am a farmer too (our family has been since 1849 in the location I reside). My husband, a principal, also farms our acreage here in Jay County. I grew up on this farm with grandparents who raised cows, hogs and chickens, and farmed this farm to provide for a family. At that time the small amount of manure that was generated was placed directly on the land to provide for fertilizer. The odor from this spreading lasted a few days. I do not know how this affected the ground water nor the potential pollution it caused. I do know that we drank our own well water without affect.
I am a gardener. I enjoy working out of doors in all climates and seasons. I grow vegetables for canning and flowers for sharing. I am a farm girl through and through.
I appreciate and am very proud of my ancestors who settled on this farm many generations ago. In their day they sold eggs to a hatchery in Portland, milk to a local dairy, hogs at the slaughterhouse in Muncie and grain to the local feed mill. They were proud people who worked hard to provide for their families and to be good neighbors. My grandparents taught me to work hard, to share and to be a good neighbor.
How can I be a good neighbor today? I have tried. When a CAFO was rumored to be placed less than a mile on our adjoining property line, and then a letter was received by us confirming this decision, I sent a letter with my concerns to Bill Milligan.
I also stopped in on two occasions to speak with Mr. Milligan. I was never able to speak with him nor did he reply to my single letter of concern.
The CAFO is now in operation and has been for three seasons. I now find myself with not so neighborly feelings. I don't wish to feel this way. I would rather as God has instructed: "Love my neighbor as myself," but it is very difficult.
The reason is this: Odor. There are now several thousand hogs confined less than a mile from our door. My outdoor activities are ruled by this odor. I check out of doors before I wash sheets to be placed on the line to dry. Even this is not fool proof as one minute the odor may be drifting one way or not be present, only to find the next minute the odor be tremendous. I have hung laundry out of doors only to have to wash it again and dry it in the clothes dryer. I continue gardening activities knowing that immediately upon my return to the house I must shower to rid myself of the offending hog odor. I have gone out after dark to water plants and returned inside smelling very offensive. Since we live on a stone road in Jay County, we can open very few windows for "fresh" air. These windows are on the north side of our home, exactly the direction the foul odor comes from.
When I have voiced concerns about the step-child feeling of living on the southern border of our county regarding the stone road, no long distance and now the odor, I am told you knew what you were getting into when you moved there. Isn't that a silly answer to legitimate concerns? My ancestors chose this land in 1849 and here I'm hoping to remain until God calls me home.
So, I've voiced my frustration but I do have a viable solution. A company called GreenFlash Technologies (solutions driven by nature) has come up with scientific solutions to many problems concerning CAFO odor and break down of waste. For $.20 per hog per month, odor can be managed to a livable level for neighbors. It's a win/win solution for farmers to become good neighbors as well as advantages to the farmer for this $.20 investment.
Loria Pursifull finishes her letter to the editor with this comment, "There is a way for farmers and non-farmers to learn how to co-exist in agricultural-residential areas. Let us set that example." Loria does not have a suggestion on how this can be accomplished. The implication is that we who do not own CAFOs must simply stop complaining and accept what must be in order for all of us to have what the farmer can provide for us.
I am offering a solution. I have listened to a presentation by a GreenFlash representative. I have tried one of the products called OdorOut. It is a spray that can be directly sprayed on the human body, hair, etc. It is safe for animals, plants, and humans and is entirely environmentally safe. It eliminates all organic odors including pet urine/feces odors. I have used it effectively on myself and in our home.
Thank you for your considerations.
Sharon Taylor
Redkey[[In-content Ad]]
After reading the editorial by Loria Pursifull in the Feb. 22, 2007 issue of the Commercial Review, I mulled the information about CAFOs around in my mind before sending my own views on the matter. I am a farmer too (our family has been since 1849 in the location I reside). My husband, a principal, also farms our acreage here in Jay County. I grew up on this farm with grandparents who raised cows, hogs and chickens, and farmed this farm to provide for a family. At that time the small amount of manure that was generated was placed directly on the land to provide for fertilizer. The odor from this spreading lasted a few days. I do not know how this affected the ground water nor the potential pollution it caused. I do know that we drank our own well water without affect.
I am a gardener. I enjoy working out of doors in all climates and seasons. I grow vegetables for canning and flowers for sharing. I am a farm girl through and through.
I appreciate and am very proud of my ancestors who settled on this farm many generations ago. In their day they sold eggs to a hatchery in Portland, milk to a local dairy, hogs at the slaughterhouse in Muncie and grain to the local feed mill. They were proud people who worked hard to provide for their families and to be good neighbors. My grandparents taught me to work hard, to share and to be a good neighbor.
How can I be a good neighbor today? I have tried. When a CAFO was rumored to be placed less than a mile on our adjoining property line, and then a letter was received by us confirming this decision, I sent a letter with my concerns to Bill Milligan.
I also stopped in on two occasions to speak with Mr. Milligan. I was never able to speak with him nor did he reply to my single letter of concern.
The CAFO is now in operation and has been for three seasons. I now find myself with not so neighborly feelings. I don't wish to feel this way. I would rather as God has instructed: "Love my neighbor as myself," but it is very difficult.
The reason is this: Odor. There are now several thousand hogs confined less than a mile from our door. My outdoor activities are ruled by this odor. I check out of doors before I wash sheets to be placed on the line to dry. Even this is not fool proof as one minute the odor may be drifting one way or not be present, only to find the next minute the odor be tremendous. I have hung laundry out of doors only to have to wash it again and dry it in the clothes dryer. I continue gardening activities knowing that immediately upon my return to the house I must shower to rid myself of the offending hog odor. I have gone out after dark to water plants and returned inside smelling very offensive. Since we live on a stone road in Jay County, we can open very few windows for "fresh" air. These windows are on the north side of our home, exactly the direction the foul odor comes from.
When I have voiced concerns about the step-child feeling of living on the southern border of our county regarding the stone road, no long distance and now the odor, I am told you knew what you were getting into when you moved there. Isn't that a silly answer to legitimate concerns? My ancestors chose this land in 1849 and here I'm hoping to remain until God calls me home.
So, I've voiced my frustration but I do have a viable solution. A company called GreenFlash Technologies (solutions driven by nature) has come up with scientific solutions to many problems concerning CAFO odor and break down of waste. For $.20 per hog per month, odor can be managed to a livable level for neighbors. It's a win/win solution for farmers to become good neighbors as well as advantages to the farmer for this $.20 investment.
Loria Pursifull finishes her letter to the editor with this comment, "There is a way for farmers and non-farmers to learn how to co-exist in agricultural-residential areas. Let us set that example." Loria does not have a suggestion on how this can be accomplished. The implication is that we who do not own CAFOs must simply stop complaining and accept what must be in order for all of us to have what the farmer can provide for us.
I am offering a solution. I have listened to a presentation by a GreenFlash representative. I have tried one of the products called OdorOut. It is a spray that can be directly sprayed on the human body, hair, etc. It is safe for animals, plants, and humans and is entirely environmentally safe. It eliminates all organic odors including pet urine/feces odors. I have used it effectively on myself and in our home.
Thank you for your considerations.
Sharon Taylor
Redkey[[In-content Ad]]
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