DISQUS

Pat Brown (Ms) · 1 year ago

I read with interest, the article about the "spring". I live in Elizabeth, IL and farmed for 20+ years in the area (different farms). There abound in our area. Just look at Highway 20 west of Elizabeth and see the water leaking through the pavement on the hillside. How can this entire area that was "missed" by the glacier not be consistent in 'substance' such as water, soil, rock etc? I could recite many stories told me by older relatives and also those I know from experiencing. I share all the concerns the local people from around Nora have. I only hope more elected officials will recognize these and take them into consideration. God bless H.O.M.E.S!

Kim Francis · 1 year ago

We received a notice of intent to construct in November, 2007, concerning the proposed factory dairy. At the Nora meeting, there was one thing in particular that I recall. Several questions directed to the "expert" Terry Feldman, engineer for Bos, were usually answered with he couldn't be sure without referring to his notes. After several such responses, I wondered how this "expert" could propose such a mega project and not be confident enough to answer our questions? Perhaps he isn't such an "expert" after all.

Small Farmer · 1 year ago

The developers of this facility do not care about the environment or the health of the people surrounding it. They have ignored the Illinois State Geologist's input. They have ignored the voice of the entire county of Jo Daviess and their vote of NO to the construction if this facility. Now,even as they dig their manure pit and break into our drinking water aquifer,they seem to be ignoring the obvious issue of ground water contamination. The clear blueish colored water is obviously natural spring water. Run off from rain is brown and muddy. If they hit a drain line,any water in the pit would be draining away,not filling it up. They are called drain tiles, not fill tiles. The people working on this project are lying,cheating and stealing to get this factory farm into an area where it is not safe for construction and is not wanted.
It shows how hard the State will work against the voice of the people its supposed to be representing....if enough money is offered by an out of state investor.
HOMES is the only hope to protect the Air, Water and Investments of the people from NW Illinois.
The State is working for Bos.The County has no authority. Its up to HOMES. Please help HOMES and make a donation for legal fees at STOPTHEMEGADAIRY.ORG

Concerned Citizen · 1 year ago

It seems that all evidence points towards bad desicion making. There are many parts of the Midwest that are condusive to this kind of an operation. Warren IL, and the surrounding area are within biologically significant zones that bring thousands of tourists a year to enjoy the scenery. Areas that lie in environmentally sub par areas with dwindling populations and job growth that would welcome a CAFO of this magnitide. So why JoDaviess County? I would like to hear an explanation of why this site was desired with all of the environmental fragility involved and not elsewhere... Anyone?

Nic Anderson · 1 year ago

Jo Daviess County has been a long standing, leading Agricultural County in the State of Illinois, even before the on set of Luxury housing and Tourism became popular. Animal Agriculture, especially dairy, has played a vital role in Jo Daviess history. Agricultural zoned land is plentiful and productive and lends itself to animal production just like it has for many years. Northern Illinois also sits in strategically positive milk market with excellent processing and distribution capabilities.
The Livestock Management Facilities Act (LMFA) of 1996 established a stringent set of requirements that livestock facilities must meet before construction begins, whether it the surrounding area is agriculture or the sensitivity of the land it is to be built on. This dairy is and has followed those requirements. They have designed clay liners for there nutrient storage and even proposed a digester to address the County Boards request for more odor control. These Clay liners are built very much like the liners the surrounding communities of Warren, Stockton, and Elizabeth use to contain human waste in the same “why this site was desired with all of the environmental fragility” geological area.
The concern citizens of Jo Daviess have in the development of livestock facilities in the area are just why the LMFA was enacted in 1996. The Livestock Industry in Illinois is interested in protecting the recourses we so desperately depend on for our long term survival and count on the LMFA to provide the avenue to establish requirements so we might continue operate with sound scientific evaluation with out personal or uneducated opinion or rhetoric.

Cindy Bonnet, Nora Township · 1 year ago

The government had a dairy "buyout" in the 1980's to decrease the dairy herds in Illinois and the whole U.S. If we have tens of thousands of cows entering the state again will the government have another "buyout"? Our dairy cows now produce so much more milk than 20 years ago that there is not nearly as many cows needed. If there is another dairy "buyout", our independent dairy farmers will disappear and be replaced by these huge industrial farms. There will be only a handful of farmland owners in the counties as tens of thousands of acres will be needed for feed and manure spreading. The Illinois Livestock Development Group (ILDG), should be called the Illinois Grain Market Development Group because it was created to increase demand for the Illinois grains. However, because of the demand for corn and soybeans for fuel and for human consumption, grain prices are substantially higher so that the original purpose of the ILDG is no longer relevant. "Change" would be for the family farms in Illinois and surrounding states to stand up to this corporate dictatorship and mount a huge resistance. 80% of the dairy farms in the U.S. have fewer than 100 cows. We don't have to destroy this independent dairy farm industry, as has happened to swine and poultry farms. If this megadairy is built many more will follow!

phlorum · 2 months ago

Japanese Knotweed There are various different methods of Japanese knotweed removal. Using a Japanese knotweed rhizome barrier may be one of the methods to prevent the local spread of the plant. This will prevent the spreading across a land boundary as the barrier is buried along the required margin. The barrier is comprised of a thick sheet of plastic that cannot be penetrated by underground growth of the knotweed.