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.

Has the continued degradation of Missouri by its largest hog producer tested the patience of authorities? Do northern Missouri residents want or need over 100 miles of additional manure pipelines fanning out over six counties to provide this over-producer of noxious material an outlet for disposal, putting even more of our water at risk?

For six long years state and local politicians, the Dept. of Natural Resources, MO Dept. of Agriculture, and some members of the media have appeared to grovel at the feet of Missouri’s #1 polluter, Premium Standard Farms/Continental Grain. In the past, MDNR officials have routinely rubber-stamped virtually every request from the company in an effort to accomodate the mega producer. With a new director at the helm, and with the US Environmental Protection Agency intervening, the honeymoon may be over.

According to news releases from the Ozark Chapter of the Sierra Club and CLEAN, the USEPA has filed suit against PSF citing "longstanding and ongoing violations of federal law, i.e. the Clean Water Act." The USEPA seeks considerable fines for violations of environmental law. The action is soundly applauded by those who have fought so hard to get the MO Legislature and state agencies to force this polluter, and others like it, into compliance of both state and federal law: Missouri Rural Crisis Center (MRCC), Farm Aid, Sierra Club, CLEAN, WIN, Coalition for Family Farms and the Environment, and the multitude of grass roots organizations.

It boggles the mind how this company with its clear and consistent history of violations, can continue to spread such tripe as that in their newspaper ads and on radio. A "commitment to the environment?" Bah! Humbug! The only commitment that is visible to the naked eye is one of continued desecration and destruction of a previously beautiful and unspoiled area of our state.

There are those who continue to defend this polluter despite their record of environmental and community damage; who write of the need to "be fair" to the company. It is a sad reflection on those defenders that they do not see the need for that same "fairness" for the neighbors of PSF/CG; families who have lived in a virtual toilet bowl for the past six years.

An interesting phenomenon frequently occurs when one works for an operation like PSF/ CG. Often employees cannot, or will not, smell any offensive odor; they seem willing to accept all responsibility for violations, for the company can do no wrong. Until they become disillusioned with the long hours/low pay and quit--or speak up and get fired. Suddenly their nose begins to twitch with the offensive odor just as the neighbor’s does. Some even become a part of the grassroots movement that prefers to face facts; tell it like it really is when you live, or work, in Hog Hell. For those former employees, the honeymoon is indeed over.

It is rather ironic that action by the USEPA comes at a time when MO AG Jay Nixon appears ready to "cut a deal" with the company in regard to its almost continuous violations, and at a time when PSF/CG has applied for permits for over 22,000 additional acres for disposal of their waste. For the MDNR to accomodate this request would permit an additional 100 miles of manure pipes that would do little more than provide for even more such violations; more fish kills; more contaminated drinking water supplies; more horrific living conditions for even more Missouri residents.

Today’s Quote: "This whole wretched operation has been a blight on the state of Missouri from the very beginning. This company has promised everything and delivered nothing but a stinking mess."--Ken Midkiff, Sierra Club