The construction of the Sandy Creek CAFO has drawn the attention of the Heart of Illinois Sierra Club, which published unaccredited photos of the under construction hog facility in Marshall County in their November newsletter to members.

This week we have news of an Illinois environmental activist group circulating photos of an under-construction hog facility in Marshall County, just as news spread of “animal rights” proponents entering a poultry facility– resulting in the euthanasia of all the birds– in another state. Also: it’s fall conference time for farmers, and we have news of three upcoming events of interest to farmers and ranchers. For more on these farm and rural news items, please read on…

Environmental group posts hog barn photos

PEORIA – The Peoria-based Heart of Illinois Sierra Club has published unaccredited photos of the under-construction Sandy Creek Lane LLC hog confinement facility, or CAFO, in their November newsletter sent to members. A brief article points out that the facility, which will house some 20,000 head of swine over the course of a year, has been long opposed by a local group, “Save Our Sandy,” whose members are concerned that hog waste could leak from the facility into nearby Sandy Creek. “Unfortunately, the Illinois Department of Agriculture approved construction of the facility,” reads the likewise unaccredited Sierra Club article.

The article does not issue a “call to action” to local Sierra Club members, and it does not list the address, general location or GPS coordinates for the Marshall County farm, which is located near Wenona. These seem to be very responsible actions by the HOI Sierra Club, when considered in light of recent developments at a California egg farm, where activists with the “Direct Action Everywhere” group conducted “stealth visits” to document suspected animal cruelty. There, activists entered the barn several times in September and October, mostly at night, to film video footage. The group’s actions, however, served to work tragically opposite of their stated mission of saving farm animals from your frying pan.

“Because of the potential for contamination due to the activists entering the barn, the farm targeted by Direct Action Everywhere’s video had to destroy all the birds in it– a clear consequence of the group placing their true agenda, promoting animal rights, above ensuring the health, safety and even lives of the birds,” reads an October 24 news release issued by the Animal Agriculture Alliance. The statement reinforces to farmers and ranchers that the Department of Homeland Security has recognized agriculture and food production as critical components of our infrastructure and national security.

“It is of utmost importance that business owners continue to strengthen the security of their facilities and that law enforcement provide support to farmers and ranchers,” the release reads, in part. “The Alliance urges farmers and ranchers to remain vigilant and aware of threats posed by extremists who have no respect for the law or animal safety. We also ask law enforcement to provide any assistance possible to the agricultural community in preventing these unlawful ‘visits’ from occurring.”

New regs focus of fall pork meetings

SPRINGFIELD – New regulations facing pork producers, including changes to veterinary feed directives (VFDs), will be among the top issues discussed during the Illinois Pork Producers Association (IPPA) annual fall regional meetings, scheduled at six locations in November. The meetings allow producers to attend and provide valuable input on issues facing the pork industry, according to IPPA Executive Director Jennifer Tirey.

“These regional meetings give IPPA the opportunity to have candid conversations with producers about what issues impact them and what they expect from their association,” said Tirey, in a news release announcing the meetings. In addition to VFDs, this year’s producer roundtables will be used to conduct elections for open board positions, selection of delegates for the annual national meeting, and the opportunity to formulate resolutions. The GIPSA rule and the importance of the Trans-Pacific Trade Partnership are among other expected topics.

They are scheduled for November 9 (Jacksonville), Nov.14 (Monmouth), Nov. 15 (Highland), Nov. 22 (Normal), Nov. 29 (Sycamore) and Nov. 30 (Effingham). For more info, visit www.ilpork.com.

Farm bill meetings scheduled

BLOOMINGTON – Farmers located near Mt. Vernon, Morton, Jacksonville and Tuscola may want to mark their calendars for upcoming Farm Bill 2018 meetings. The meetings, sponsored by Illinois Corn and other commodity associations, will give farmers and ranchers an opportunity to weigh in on personal farm program priorities that will influence how the associations advocate policy for the next farm bill. The first series of meetings, which include a meal, are set for November 7 (Mt. Vernon), Nov. 9 (Morton), Nov. 9 (Jacksonville) and Nov. 10 (Tuscola). A second round of meetings will be held Nov. 14 (Monmouth), Nov. 22 (Normal), Nov. 29 (Sycamore), December 7 (Kankakee), Dec. 8 (Freeport) ad Dec. 12 (Belleville).
Some of the meetings will be in conjunction with IPPA fall meetings (see prior news item). For more info or to register, go to www.ilcorn.org.

Illinois Farm Fact:

The Animal Agriculture Alliance is an industry-united, nonprofit organization that helps bridge the communication gap between farm and fork.

Cattle program features top industry experts

BLUE MOUND – Beef industry experts will address cattle nutrition, animal health and ever-changing cattle markets during an open meeting for Illinois cattlemen to be held December 6 at the Curtin Land and Cattle Customer Appreciation meeting and Angus bull sale near Blue Mound. The program is free and open to all, according to fourth-generation cattle rancher T.J. Curtin, who organized the event in 2015.
“I enjoy going to other educational programs and always learn something that I can take home and apply to my farm. I wanted to offer a similar opportunity for our customers and other cattle producers,” said Curtin, who asks that those planning to attend RSVP him (for a meal count estimate) at (217) 825-3005.

Beef industry experts scheduled to attend and speak include Travis Meteer, University of Illinois Extension beef specialist, Dr, Mark Hilton of Elanco Animal Health, and Lance Zimmerman, an analyst and protein research specialist for CattleFax. The program begins at 9:30 am. Contact Curtin, a past president of the Illinois Angus Association, for more information about the event.

–R.F.D. NEWS & VIEWS–