Jefferson County Farmers and Neighbors, Inc.

The newly formed group Jefferson County Farmers and Neighbors Inc., also known as JFAN held a meeting Wednesday at the Fairfield Best Western and it was a standing room only crowd of about 400 people concerned about the increase in confinements in and around Jefferson County.

The non-profit group was formed to stop the growth of Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations, or hog confinements and to inform citizens of Jefferson County about the dangers of these animal factories and the effective alternatives to them. They are an ally of the family farmer and support traditional hog farming and other smart farming methods.

There were several speakers that pointed out everything from property values being hurt and, of course, the odor. Jim Rubis, a member of JFAN, pointed out several arguments against confinements. He said that in addition to manure, hundred of dead pigs contribute to the odor because they are composted on the site. He also said it’s a strain on the infrastructure, a big cost for upkeep of county roads and because of mutations in large confinements, disease is prevalent.

JFAN and Iowa environmental commission member Francis Thicke said that there are many more confinements being built fewer than 1,200 head because they are not subject to DNR regulations.

Of the hundreds of people in attendance, KMCD News did speak with a few. Among them was Patrick and Crystal Guerin of Fairfield who told KMCD News that it’s a quality of life issue saying that they moved here for the clean air and clean water and it’s being ruined by the confinements, several of which are being built or have been built around the area they live about seven miles north of Fairfield. When the subject of legislators in Des Moines constantly tabling legislation to regulate confinements, Mrs. Guerin simply said that she’s worked to get people elected and is more than willing to work to get people out of office. Mr. Guerin added that the people that vote others into office are being treated like pawns.

Fairfield resident Merrill Bradshaw says that nobody will continue attending the church he goes to that is located near the proposed site of the 5,900 head unit that will be located 3 miles north of Batavia because of the smell adding that nobody wants to worship in a place that stinks.

Batavia City Councilman Randy Major told KMCD that his argument is more of a matter of leveling the playing field. He says that his community of nearly 500 people has very strict waste management rules that sees them facing huge fines if they aren’t followed and doesn’t see how a 5,900 head hog confinement is allowed to spread manure just about anywhere they want.

The next meeting of JFAN has yet to be announced but if you would like more information about the organization you can hit their website. www.jfaniowa.org.