Register for the virtual public hearing on February 3, 6pm:
Learn more about the proposed permit:
On February 3, The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) will hold a virtual public hearing to give the public an opportunity to provide comments. Read Flow’s submitted comments here.
KB Dairy LLC is seeking approval to expand a 3,450-head dairy operation that sits directly next to—and shares the same address as—the already massive 8,400-animal De Saegher Dairy in Middleton, Michigan. Together, these facilities would form an unprecedented industrial-scale operation in Gratiot County. If approved, this expansion would dramatically increase the amount of manure waste being generated and spread across local farmland.
SAVE THE DATE:
Who: EGLE
What: Virtual public hearing to discuss KB Dairy permit
When: February 3, 6pm
Where: Register at the link here, or at: https://bit.ly/WRD020326
Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs), commonly referred to as factory farms, are large livestock facilities that house several hundred to tens of thousands of animals. Gratiot County is home to some of the largest dairy CAFOs in Michigan, and over 400 million gallons of CAFO animal wastes are spread on saturated fields each year — equivalent to the daily sewage generated by Los Angeles County.
Dennis Kellogg, a sixth-generation farmer in Gratiot County, describes the CAFO waste management practices:
“When the CAFOs spread their manure, they are required to be a reasonable setback distance from the edge of the field. I’ve noticed they apply right up to the lot lines of residences, businesses, schools, and other public use areas…These facilities are polluting our local communities with excessive amounts of manure, and are not being held accountable for it. Who pays the price for this?“
Join our watch party!
Join us for a virtual watch party and community discussion on the proposed KB Dairy factory farm permit in Gratiot County. We’ll tune in together to the public hearing and talk about what it means for our water, land, and neighbors.
When: February 3, 5:30pm; Hearing starts at 6pm
Where: Alma College at the Tyler-Van Dussen Commons, 614 W Superior St, Alma, MI 48801
RSVP: Space is limited, so please RSVP to justfarmingsystem@gmail.com
Learn more about factory farming.
Flow Water Advocates opposes Gratiot County CAFO permit
Flow appeals EGLE rejection of FOIA request; seeks public disclosure of factory farm sewage land application.
Policy Brief: The hidden costs of anaerobic digesters and biogas
Factory farm webinar: Weigh in on how Michigan regulates factory farm waste.
Manure maelstrom: the Great Lakes are drowning in livestock waste
