"Welcome to Irena!" / Straight Talk by Martha Stevens - Rural America / In Motion Magazine

Martha Stevens is livestock farmer who lives and farms near Hatfield, Missouri. This article is part of an ongoing series by Martha Stevens - Straight Talk - commenting on the life and politics of farming in Missouri and the U.S. as a whole.

When residents of a rural Northern Missouri community learned that land in their midst had been purchased by Land o’ Lakes for a hog operation, they made their presence known in a big way. They incorporated their community, creating a new town, Irena.

Years ago, there was in fact a town located in that area; the new town covers considerably more area. In fact, smack dab in the middle of the new town of Irena lie the holdings of David Geiman, a former official of Continental Grain (livestock division). Geiman is now contractor for L o’ L, seeking a spot in the big league with mega hog factory giants like PSF/CG, Smithfield, Seaboard, etc.

Land o’ Lakes officials, early on, declined an invitation to speak at a public meeting concerning their proposed operation. They did, however, pay heed to state officials who informed them it was illegal for a corporation to own agricultural land in the state of Missouri. Enter David Geiman.

Land o’ Lakes, not about to let a little thing like Missouri law interfere with plans, transferred title of the land to Mr. Geiman who informed all parties that he would own the facilities and would contract with Land o’ Lakes to operate the boar station, a semen collection facility. (Mr. Geiman also owns at least four other CAFO’s in north Missouri.) He sought to quiet the Irena opposition with letters stating the "smallness" of the facility -- only 350 boars. (Questionable if, as reported, he planned to build two lagoons for those 350 boars.) Irena residents were not quieted.

Due to apparently erroneous legal advice, the residents were denied the opportunity to vote on the issue in August, prior to the onset of construction. They did not let that stop their crusade.

On November 2, those residents voted unanimously to incorporate. By doing so, they acquired legal and taxing authority. They are currently studying their options for dealing with their new neighbor.

The delay in voting was, without question, a setback. Had those empowered to put the issue on the ballot done so in a timely manner, the construction might not have proceeded. This is another example of how local government (the county) frequently fails to heed the wishes of their constituents, bowing instead to the might of outsiders who promote the idea of "economic development." A misnomer if I ever saw one. But this group of rural residents --15 registered voters strong - -is determined that this CAFO not disrupt their quality of life. They intend to see that it does not.

The Quad River News, in a related story following the election, reported that Mr. Geiman was planning 350 boars "to start." The low numbers oft quoted as the size of a potential CAFO tends to be smaller than the final tally, perhaps to downplay potential detrimental impact to the affected community. It is not unusual, particularly as regards corporate CAFO’s to see a dramatic increase in production at the drop of a regulation -- sometimes to gigantic proportions. PSF/CG "started" as 2,000 sow operation; the combined numbers for the merged companies is now over 160,000 sows producing in excess of 2.5 million slaughter animals per year thanks at least in part to legislative "exception to the law."

It will be interesting to watch the happenings in this tiny community as they take on a hog factory. I wish them luck.

Today’s Quote: "The most effective way to ensure the value of the future is to confront the present courageously and constructively." -- Rollo May