In December, the 12-member Planning Commission of Randolph County, Indiana,
voted unanimously to endorse an ordinance that would create a so-called
“agricultural district” across 75 percent of Randolph County
specifically for the construction of industrial livestock operations.
Over 50 opponents filled the meeting room to comment on the
proposed ordinance, and at least another 50 were forced to stand in the
hallway because the room was too crowded for them to enter.
The Commission voted against allowing public comment at this meeting. Commission member
Todd Schroeder declared that he had heard enough from the public and joined the vote against public comment.
The proposed ordinance would turn 220,000 acres of the nearly
290,000 acres in the county into an industrial park for confined animal
feeding operations by creating an intensive agricultural district.
In 2006 Randolph County’s hog population grew by over 126,000
hogs. Last year nearly 38,000 more hogs were added. Maxwell Foods of
Goldsboro, North Carolina, has been expanding into the region because
of excess pork production in North Carolina.
Indiana County Slated for Mega Hog Expansion
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The Center for Rural Affairs, Posted Feb 21, 2008
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