Action Needed on Confinements and Local Control

By Dave Murphy

Fellow Iowans,

Your help is needed to support several very important bills coming out of the Senate Ag Committee that address the issue of large-scale animal confinements and attempt to find a balance between the needs of rural residents, the environment and those of the livestock industry.

The majority of these bill have been written, sponsored or supported by Senator Jack Kibbie and Gene Fraise, who are both farmers themselves and have been actively engaged in the debate of protecting the democratic rights of rural citizens, the environment, and family farmers for more than a decade.

Please call your Senator this weekend to let them know that you support the following bills. Remember to be courteous and polite in leaving a message.

If you cannot reach your Senator (their numbers are listed below) over the weekend, please call them on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday at the Capitol.

THE SENATE SWITCHBOARD NUMBER IS (515) 281-3371. If you can't get through, please leave a short message.

Also contact GOVERNOR CULVER'S OFFICE:  (515) 281-5211.

Senate Agriculture Bills:

1.) SF 10 (Bio-Security Bill): If passed, this bill will: a) allow the county board of supervisors to establish separation distances between farrowing units and finishing animal confinements b) help return an important industry to Iowa c) due to the increased number of confinements being built across the state and thus the increased concentration, Iowa has become an epicenter of disease in the livestock (especially hog) industry.

2.) SSB 1140 (Master Matrix Bill):  This study bill requires confinement operators to: a) fill out all portions of the matrix, b) attain a passing score in each of the following three areas: air quality, water quality, and communities and c) allows for the deduction of points.

3.) SSB 1165 (Supervisor Committee Bill):  This study bill calls for: a) all counties to adopt the matrix and b) for the county board of supervisors to appoint a five-person committee with staggered five-year terms that will review all new confinements applications.

4.) SSB 1184 (Increased Separation Distances Bill): This study bill would: a) increase the minimum separation distances between residences, businesses, schools and churches based on the animal unit capacity of the proposed confinement, b) 1⁄2 mile from a confinement with 1,000 animal unites (400 hogs) c) 3⁄4 of a mile from a confinement with 1,000 to 3,000 animal units (400 to 1,200 hogs) d) 1 mile from a confinement with more than 3,000 animal units (1,200 hogs).

5.) SSB 1185 (Distances for Liquid Manure Application and Water Sources Bill):  This study bill would: a) increase the separation distances for the application of liquid manure to 750 feet between homes, businesses, schools, churches and public use areas b) require liquid manure be incorporated into the ground within 24 hours of application c) not allow a confinement not be built within a 1⁄2 mile of the surface intake of an agricultural drainage well d) not allow a confinement to be built within 3⁄4 of a mile from a wellhead, cistern of an agricultural drainage well, or known sinkhole e) not allow a confinement to be built within 1/4 mile of from a water source other than a major water source f) not allow a confinement not be built within 3/4 of a mile from a major water source.

6.) SSB 1001 (Competition / Spot Market 25% Bill):  This study bill provides for the regulation of packers and the purchase of hogs from producers. Passing this bill will increase competition among the industry and also guarantee independent producers a place in the market to sell their livestock.

We believe these bills are a reasonable compromise between the livestock industry and the health, property, and environmental rights and concerns of rural residents and all Iowans.

Your support in this matter is very much appreciated.

Democrats

Senator Tom Rielly (Vice Chair of Agriculture Committee)  
Counties:  Iowa, Keokuk, Mahaska, Poweshiek, Tama
Home Telephone:  (641) 673-2957
Home Fax:  (641) 673-2957
E-mail:  tom.rielly@legis.state.ia.us

Senator Staci Appel   
Counties:  Dallas, Madison, Warren
Home Telephone: (515) 961-6982
E-mail: staci.appel@legis.state.ia.us

Senator Dennis Black
Counties:  Jasper, Polk
Home Telephone:  (641) 527-3172
Business Telephone:  (515) 975-8608
E-mail: dennis.black@legis.state.ia.us

Senator Thomas Courtney
Counties:  Des Moines, Louisa, Muscatine
Home Telephone:  (319) 753-2684
E-mail: thomas.courtney@legis.state.ia.us

Senator Tom Hancock
Counties:  Delaware, Dubuque, Jones
Home Telephone:  (563) 876-3219
E-mail:  tom.hancock@legis.state.ia.us

Senator Rich Olive
Counties:  Hamilton, Story, Webster, Wright
Home Telephone:  (515) 733-2427
E-mail: rich.olive@legis.state.ia.us

Senator Dr. Joes Seng
Counties:  Scott
Home Telephone:  (563) 391-1627
E-mail: joe.seng@legis.state.ia.us

Republicans
Senator David Johnson (Ranking Member)
Counties:  Clay, Dickinson, O'Brien, Osceola, Sioux
Home Telephone:  (712) 758-3280
E-mail:  david.johnson@legis.state.ia.us

Senator Nancy Boettger
Counties:  Adair, Audubon, Cass, Guthrie, Pottawattamie, Shelby
Home Telephone:  (712) 744-3290
Business Fax:  (712) 744-4290
E-mail:  nancy.boettger@legis.state.ia.us

Senator Thurman Gaskill
Counties:  Cerro Gordo, Franklin, Hancock, Winnebago, Worth
Home Telephone:  (515) 583-2449
Home Fax:  (515) 583-2547
E-mail:  thurman.gaskill@legis.state.ia.us

Senator Hubert Houser
Counties:  Fremont, Mills, Paige, Pottawattamie
Home Telephone:  (712) 486-2597
Home Fax:  (712) 486-2597
E-mail: hubert.house@legis.state.ia.us

Senator Dave Mulder
Counties:  Sioux, Lyon
Business Telephone:  (712) 707-7011
Cell Phone:  (712) 441-5669
E-mail: dave.mulder@legis.state.ia.us

Senator John Putney
Counties:  Emmet, Humboldt, Kossuth, Palo Alto, Pocahontas, Webster
Home Telephone:  (641) 473-2129
Business Telephone:  (515) 262-3111
Home Fax:  (712) 852-3378
E-mail:  john.putney@legis.state.ia.us