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).

CAFO's vs Cole County Circuit Court Judge Patricia Joyce

The Joplin Globe, Wednesday, September 28, 2008 reported that Judge Joyce's Cole County Circuit Court ruling, which prohibits construction of CAFOs within 15 miles of Missouri State Parks and Historic sites, is about to be tested.

In her ruling, Judge Joyce said the construction of confined-animal feeding operations near state parks and historic sites poses an unacceptable health risk because of “odors and volatile and dangerous airborne pollutants” emitted by them. She cited reports by the United Nations, the World Health Organization and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to support her position.

In declaring that the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) had failed to protect Missouri’s state parks and historic sites, Judge Joyce also stripped away the department’s ability to issue new CAFO permits. The judge said she was in charge of that now. But since that ruling MDNR has issued two construction permits for poultry CAFOs that opponents say might be within 15 miles of Big Sugar Creek State Park in McDonald County.

CAFO permits: Russell Renner-Anderson,(McDonald Co.) MO. 64831, and Steve Renner-Anderson, (McDonald Co.) MO 64831

Renee Bungart, spokeswoman for MDNR, said the permits were issued on Sept. 15. She provided the following statement: “The Missouri Department of Natural Resources respects the court’s authority and will take all necessary actions to ensure compliance with its recent ruling. The department is carefully reviewing each CAFO permit application prior to issuance to ensure that it will not violate the court’s ruling. When applications are believed to be outside the scope of the court’s ruling and when they meet all regulatory requirements and demonstrate that the operation will protect water quality, the department is obligated by law to issue the permit.’’

Asked specifically about the 15-mile buffer around Big Sugar Creek State Park, Bungart said in a prepared response: “The department is unable to comment further on your questions due to pending litigation.’’

Big Sugar Creek State Park

CAFO Conference, Tuesday, Oct 14, Thiebaud Auditorium, Lamar, MO.

Thiebaud Auditorium
105 E. 11th Ttreet
Lamar, MO. 64759
7:00pm, Tuesday, October 14, 2008

The Joplin Globe reported, Wednesday, September 24, 2008, that the program will begin at 7 p.m. with a showing of a documentary, “Everyone Lives Downstream.’’ The film, produced by two students at Pittsburg (Kan.) State University, depicts the impact of poultry CAFOs at Roaring River State Park. It will be followed by a report from a representative of the Roaring River Parks Alliance, which is mounting a legal fight.

Those attending will receive an update on a legal issue from a resident of Richland Township in Barton County, where voters overwhelmingly adopted measures last year to regulate hog CAFOs in the township. The vote was thrown out by a circuit judge. Residents have appealed the decision to a higher court.

Cat Logan Smith, with the Missouri Coalition for the Environment, and Rhonda Perry, with the Missouri Rural Crisis Center, also will speak. A representative of the Missouri Farmers Union also is set to speak.

The conference will continue with remarks by John Ikerd, professor emeritus of agricultural economics at the University of Missouri-Columbia. He will talk about the economic impact of CAFOs on family farms.

The conference will conclude with the showing of “Farming Was My Life,’’ a documentary that depicts the negative impact of factory farms on rural communities and traditional farmers.

Contact Links:
Roaring River Parks Alliance
Missouri Coalition of the the Environment
Missouri Rural Crisis Center
John Ikerd, PhD. University of Missouri-Columbia
Missouri Farmers Union

"Farming Was My Life", produced by Holly Hobbs
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4

"Everyone Lives Downstream", produced by Tyler Swezey and Anthony Monteleone