A resident's concerns have revealed that Lafayette County has no permitting process for farms with up to 1,000 heifers. It's a loophole that should be addressed by county supervisors.
Peggy Miller of rural South Wayne became concerned when she learned of plans for a barn to house between 700 and 999 heifers near her property. Pat Place told the Times his plans are very preliminary. He's just done soil testing so far, and has no construction timetable.
Miller is concerned she wasn't notified of the plans, and worries about impacts on the air, water and traffic in the area.
All citizens should be concerned about such impacts. And the county should have regulations in place to tend to those concerns.
Lafayette County Zoning Administrator Steve Hubner said the county doesn't have any permitting requirements similar to one in Green County, which subjects plans for farms with more than 500 animals to the Green County Land Conservation Board. Hubner told the Times the "time is ripe" for Lafayette County to make rules governing large-scale farms and barns.
Such regulations, however, must not serve to prohibit agricultural development in the county. Instead, they must merely be measures of protection that ensure the county's environment isn't negatively impacted. It is possible for large-scale farms to exist under such measures. That should be the Lafayette County Board of Supervisors' goal.
If Miller's comments posted Thursday to the Times' Web site are any indication, the county, and Wayne Township, may be prepared to begin addressing the issue. Miller urged all residents to attend the Sept. 16 Wayne Town Board meeting, which is at 7:30 p.m. at the South Wayne Firehouse. She also has asked to speak at the next Lafayette County Board meeting about the possibility of a livestock facility ordinance.
It would be helpful if all interested parties refrained from making the pursuit or ordinances and emotional battle.
Unfortunately, large-scale farming tends to result in such tussles. The more productive course would be to commit to allowing any agricultural development that meets reasonable environmental standards, then working together to set regulations that fulfill that commitment.
Peggy Miller of rural South Wayne became concerned when she learned of plans for a barn to house between 700 and 999 heifers near her property. Pat Place told the Times his plans are very preliminary. He's just done soil testing so far, and has no construction timetable.
Miller is concerned she wasn't notified of the plans, and worries about impacts on the air, water and traffic in the area.
All citizens should be concerned about such impacts. And the county should have regulations in place to tend to those concerns.
Lafayette County Zoning Administrator Steve Hubner said the county doesn't have any permitting requirements similar to one in Green County, which subjects plans for farms with more than 500 animals to the Green County Land Conservation Board. Hubner told the Times the "time is ripe" for Lafayette County to make rules governing large-scale farms and barns.
Such regulations, however, must not serve to prohibit agricultural development in the county. Instead, they must merely be measures of protection that ensure the county's environment isn't negatively impacted. It is possible for large-scale farms to exist under such measures. That should be the Lafayette County Board of Supervisors' goal.
If Miller's comments posted Thursday to the Times' Web site are any indication, the county, and Wayne Township, may be prepared to begin addressing the issue. Miller urged all residents to attend the Sept. 16 Wayne Town Board meeting, which is at 7:30 p.m. at the South Wayne Firehouse. She also has asked to speak at the next Lafayette County Board meeting about the possibility of a livestock facility ordinance.
It would be helpful if all interested parties refrained from making the pursuit or ordinances and emotional battle.
Unfortunately, large-scale farming tends to result in such tussles. The more productive course would be to commit to allowing any agricultural development that meets reasonable environmental standards, then working together to set regulations that fulfill that commitment.
