6 Responses to “State Line Farms shutting down one operation”

1. contrarian responded:
   

   There are smells emitted from hog farms? I don’t know what effort Stateline made to comply with the orders but this stinks of a neighborhood battle. I continue to think that these types of issues are better resolved through local zoning.

   Seneca Township needs to get in the game if its residents don’t want large agricultural operations. They should zone some areas where these types of operations are acceptable and then get the State out of the neighborhood disputes.

2. Green responded:
   

   This Observer editorial from 2003 gives some information about the absence of local control in this matter. It also makes reference to what might happen in the future at State Line Farms and what did in fact occur.

3. Buster responded:
   

   I don’t know where Contrarian lives, but I wonder what he would think if a huge hog farm was built just across the road from him. Maybe 150 yards away. I would be happy if there were state laws against this happening.

4. contrarian responded:
   

   I’m sure I wouldn’t enjoy living across the road from a large hog operation. I would make sure that could not occur before I bought a place. Zoning would need to be in place or I would think it my responsibility to purchase enough ground around me so as to protect nose.

   However, I do not believe our competition in Bolivia or wherever they breed swine are bothered with oder control on a farm operation. Let’s not complain about loss of jobs to other nations and then ask for big brother to pile on to the point that we cannot compete.

5. asimina1 responded:
   

   Unfortunately, Seneca Township cannot legally zone industrial ag out of areas. No township, no county in Michigan has the right to decide where CAFOs can or can’t be, after laws were passed in the Michigan legislature under pressure from Farm Bureau, removing all local control on ag zoning. So any action against these operations happens after they’re built. All enforcement and all response to complaints has to come from state agencies (MDA or DEQ).

   Let your legislators know you want Local Control back!

6. contrarian responded:
   

   I was not thinking of eliminating them. I was suggesting they could be zone an acceptable location within the township. I think you could do that, maybe not.