Be a Good Steward of the Land, Air and Water
A response to Jerry McMasters’ Arkansas Pork Producers:

Anyone concerned about water and air quality does not locate a hog production facility that produces two million gallons of untreated hog sewage waste to be spread on fields next to a major tributary of the pristine Buffalo National River, not to mention next to a school. The odors produced represent chemicals in the air that are not only unpleasant, but harmful to human health.

The truth is that the waste ponds and spray field system used by C&H Hog Farms, the Cargill contractor/hog producer, was such an environmental hazard in North Carolina that it has been banned for new and expanded facilities by the legislature in North Carolina. That system should not be allowed in the Natural State.

Nothing like a 6,500 hog (2,000 sow, 4,500 weaner pigs) production facility should be called a “fam! ily farm.” The facility is owned by a corporation. The hogs are owned by Cargill, fed with Cargill feed and will go out of the barns to other Cargill facilities. C&H is part of an integrated Big Ag operation.

C&H’s waste management plan admits leakage of the waste ponds. The untreated hog waste will be spread on lands adjacent to Big Creek, many of which admittedly flood frequently. The waste ponds already smell strongly. The smell is confirmation that hydrogen sulfide, ammonia and other toxic fumes are coming from the production facilities and off of the waste ponds. The leakage and odors are not a “what if” scenario.

The informational programs presented by the Buffalo River Watershed Alliance, a non-profit made up of local folks concerned for the river, made it clear that the Alliance was not against family farms, but in fact supported the same. Mega-large corporations like Cargill in fact diminish the family farms. The number of hog farmers in ! this country has decreased, but the number of hogs produced is basically the same. Bigger is killing the family farmer.

The Buffalo River is one of the victims, but so are local residents, Mount Judea’s school, the neighboring town and people who want to use the Buffalo River. Measures should be taken now to protect the water, soil and air quality of Arkansas. Mr. McMasters, VP of Arkansas Pork Producers, apparently does not see the difference in treated versus untreated sewage. Mr. McMaster’s comments are disingenuous.

By sitting its industrial facility on karst terrain and along the banks of Big Creek, C&H and Cargill have demonstrated that they are not good stewards of our land, air and water.

Arkansas Farm Bureau, the State of Arkansas, the University of Arkansas and environmental groups, along with the Arkansas Legislature, should step up and uphold a mission of good stewardship. We in Arkansas need to take steps to undo this error, now! Before t! he “what ifs” become worse.

Michael E. Kelly, Board Member of the Buffalo River Watershed Alliance