Russell & Steve Renner, McDonald Co. MO CAFO

Russell Renner and his son, Steve Renner have filed for Construction Permits to build a 234,000 chicken CAFO operation in McDonald Co, Missouri. According to an article in The Joplin Globe, September 14, 2008, excavation for the poultry barns started "about a week ago". The issue is whether or not construction of the CAFOs violate Cole County Circuit Court Judge Patricia Joyce's ruling, prohibiting construction of any CAFO within a 15 mile buffer of Missouri State Parks and Historic sites. In this case, the Big Sugar Creek State Park is within the 15 mile barrier of both Russell Renner and Steve Renner's CAFO projects. The Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) is quoted as saying that "the department had not issued a construction permit for the Renner chicken houses. The Renners obtained a land-disturbance permit from the DNR’s regional office in Springfield."

Big Sugar Creek State Park [Click on Google Earth map for close up view]






Russell Renner, apparently doesn't mind taking farm subsidies, according to Environmental Working Group's Farm Subsidy Database. $17,608 for the period 2002-2004

Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Div. of Environmental Quality, Issued Permit Report, dated 7/11/2008
Russell Renner, Permit No. MOR10C028, dated 7/8/2008, 5 acres, McDonald County

Steve Renner likes farm subsidies, too, according to Environmental Working Group's Farm Subsidy Database. $24,152 for the period 2001-2004.

Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Division of Environmental Quality, Issued Permit Report, dated 6/20/2008
Steve Renner, Permit No. MOR109C09, dated 6/13/2008, McDonald County

[Click on Google Earth map for close up view] Intersection of Missouri Highway 76 and Missouri Highway 43 in upper left. Russell Renner CAFO at Bunch Rd and McMillan Rd.-and- Steve Renner CAFO on (dead end) Mitchell Lane. Both CAFOs appear to be within the 15 mile buffer zone (using Google Earth maps).