To the editor,

I'm a fifth-generation crop and livestock farmer who lives in between two factory farms. I've experienced the horrors of living near these factories. Ash from incinerated cows will fall from the sky like snow. Dozens of manure tankers speed down our country roads, spilling manure over the road, causing unsafe driving conditions. And when these factories over apply manure or fail to follow the rules, they get off without any consequences. I saw this two months ago when the on-site concrete plant at Ridge Breeze was able to sell redi-mix concrete for months without a conditional use permit, but didn't face any punishment for breaking the law.

Meanwhile, small farms like mine shut down every year since we can't compete with massive corporations. I bought my farm when I was 19 and I'm not going to roll over for these corporations that affect the quality of life and property values of people who live near them.

Towns have the tools they need to make sure these factories are being responsible neighbors. Things like road damage, carcass disposal, fire plans, and a biosecurity plan to manage the avian flu when it hits their massive herds are currently completely unregulated by the county or the state. The Town of Maiden Rock is trying to do that with their operations ordinance, which will require factory farms operating in the town to submit plans on how they will run their operation.

An industrial factory with over 6,500 cows isn't a small farm and can impact our community in many ways. I am a small family farmer and I support the Operations Ordinance. I hope more towns stand up and protect themselves, too.

Ty Fisher

Elmwood