CAFO Meeting Lamar (Barton Co.) MO. Part 1

The Joplin Globe (10/16/2008) reported, "CAFO Foes Rally Forces". Speakers were critical of what they said is the inability of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources to protect the state’s natural resources from the manure associated with factory farms. They said the DNR, which is charged with permitting and regulating the state’s largest CAFOs, is much too cozy with corporate agriculture. They said the department should be doing more to prevent pollution through aggressive enforcement instead of responding to it at taxpayer expense after the damage already has taken place.

Mike Holzknecht, a resident of the Stockton area, said he attended the meeting to hear what people were saying about CAFOs. “What impressed me was that the group who came to Lamar was from all over Missouri,” he said. “They came in defense of our family farms, homes and our rural way of life. These are true American patriots. “I hope all of our neighbors out here in the country will listen to these courageous family farmers before it is too late, and they lose everything they’ve worked for their entire lives — the value of their home and their family’s freedom to enjoy it.”

The Joplin Globe article did not mention, Dr. John Ikerd's presentation. His was the most emotional, thoughtful, and inspirational of all. Some of his comments included: Rural America is being polluted and plundered. Truth with conviction. Know why you believe what you believe. It is important that rural Missouri residents reclaim their rights to self control. He said that CAFO economic promises are empty and that CAFOs are not a social or economic contributor. He challenged the group to look at academic and scientific studies. CAFOs are a broad issue with many dimensions. The science is conclusive. CAFOs are a violation of rural ethic.

He pointed out that rural America is being offered: prisons, landfills, toxic waste incinerators and CAFOs. Some feel that the "highest and best" use of rural land is a dump for other peoples waste. He stressed that CAFOs are NOT the future of American agriculture. Instead, CAFOs could be the end of American agriculture. Dr. Ikerd said that there is a correlation between CAFOs and human health risks. He said that we must support the traditional Family Farm. It is ecological and economical. We have got to pursue sustainable agriculture. He pointed out that organic food was growing at a rate of 20% annually.

He emphasized that CAFOs are degrading our most valuable asset. We must step up to regain "self determination" and "self control". There is no future in prisons, landfills and CAFOs. We deserve something better. Begin rebuilding. Reclaim our grass roots control. Shape our own destination. John Ikerd, PhD