Fwd: Ch 2 News report; factory farms in Idaho

[Ken Medlin <dev-plan@moscow.com>]

Subject:     Ch 2 News report; factory farms in Idaho
Sent:        11/25/19 9:55 PM
Received:    11/25/99 9:45 PM
From:        DPlum65@aol.com
To:          smartgrowth@onenw.org


=====  A message from the 'smartgro' discussion list  =====

11/24/99 and 11/25/99  Ch 2 News is covering factory farms in Idaho.  
Reporter John Hannion (sp).

The clip Wed evening showed a huge mucky Simplot feed lot and an 
interview 
with its manager.  The manager showed no concern for the environmental 
impacts, nor for the 1400 small farms that have been driven out of 
business 
by this type of 'factory'.  Many remaining Idaho farmers and ranchers are 
in 
crisis due to these massive operations dominating the market.  I also 
have 
concerns about the amounts of drugs and growth hormones used in these 
'factories', and what those chemicals do to humans and the ground water, 
but 
didn't see if that issue was covered in the report.  We missed part of 
it.  
Maybe in Thursday's segment.  

Five families near there are now having to haul water due to decomposing 
dead 
animals in and near a water supply.  It wasn't clear if the Simplot's 
owned 
the dead dairy animals, or if that was a separate owners problem.  The 
livestock official in the news piece seemed to deny that there were any 
legitimate environmental concerns.  If you see the clip watch his facial 
expressions.

It appears that more out of state factory farmers are moving to Idaho 
because 
of lax regulations governing them and our environment.  Sounds exactly 
like 
what is happening with the incoming developers and the open season on our 
existing communities.  Idaho is an easy target.

Both Ch 2 and Ch 6 have been doing some good in-depth reporting on 
important 
issues.  Maybe Ch 2 can show this piece again next week when it's not 
directly up against a major holiday rush.  You should call them if you 
are 
interested.


C. Cole



------------------------
William K. Medlin
Dev-plan associates
930 Kenneth Street
Moscow ID 83843
208/892-0148
dev-plan@moscow.com