On Monday, Bluestem Prairie considered the story behind proposed changes or "clarifications" that the livestock industry is seeking to Minnesota's private nuisance law in our post What's behind Big Ag's move to change Minnesota's nuisance laws--and why it matters.
The House version of the bill to modify the state nuisance law will be heard in the Ag Policy Committee on Wednesday, March 4 at 10:15 a.m. Committee chair Paul Anderson (R-Starbuck) is the author of the proposed legislation
We've received tips from rural sources about another Protein Sources project in Norman County, and have been researching public documents about this project.
So far, our research confirms that the pork powerhouse--in which Bron Scherer, the state treasurer of the Republican Party of Minnesota is a partner--is expanding its farrowing operations into new areas because of the problems created by animal diseases in Southern Minnesota.
According to a pdf of minutes for "April 29, 2024 Preliminary Meeting with Protein Source LLP, Keith Chisholm and Gary, MN Farmers, County & Local reps to explore the possibility of putting two swine farms in the Gary, MN area" posted at the Gary, MN website:
b. Protein Sources LLP is currently expanding its business through North Dakota, South Dakota and in to northern Minnesota.
i. Norman County was chosen because it is not a saturated area for the hog business. Because of this, it is deemed to be less apt to host any diseases that could affect the sows.
1. The Sows are kept in a contained building that is kept as a bio security type clean environment to ensure their good health. Employees must shower in/shower out to enter any of their facilities.
ii. Gary, MN specifically was chosen because of a mutual acquaintance of both Protein Sources and Keith Chisholm. Keith owns the property available that will work for their requirements.
Bluestem thanks God for the facts that these disease have not jumped a species border, but wishes that the pork industry might be more efficacious than simply seeking a geographic cure.
We are not sure why ordinary Minnesota citizens are to surrender their ability to seek legal redress in the court system (as the clarification of the law by legalization suggests) given this set of circumstances.
Moreover, given that Protein Sources is already expanding in North and South Dakota because of the disease factor, we certain hope we hear little about oppressive government regulations, when the true oppression here appears simply to be the facts of porcine disease and concentration of animal units.
Here's the document:
Protein Sources LLP Meeting April 29 2014
Photo: Healthy piglets and sows in the Gourley Brothers/Protein Sources Todd County farrowing barn. Via Modern Hog Farming magazine.
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