Are CAFOs healthy for children and other living things?

Tags

CAFO, Johnson County, Johnson County Community Health Services, missouri

In October 2018, in the Warrensburg, Missouri Daily Star-Journal:

Health board to present CAFO proposals to county commission
SUE STERLING Staff writer Oct 1, 2018

WARRENSBURG – The Johnson County Community Health Services board gave the go-ahead to Administrator Anthony Arton to present proposals to the Johnson County Commission for developing regulations for confined animal feeding operations in the county.

Arton discussed the issue with the board following a presentation on Thursday, Sept. 27, by members of the Lone Jack Neighbors on health issues associated with CAFOs.

Mary Haskins, a biology professor at Rockhurst University with a background in environmental and ecology issues, said the health problems suffered by people living near CAFOs has been known for decades….

[….]

Johnson County Community Health Services is governed by an elected board:

….Operated under County Health Center Statutes (Chapter 205 RSMo) and an elected Board of Trustees. JCCHS was created to house a multi-purpose agency that includes Home Health, Public Health, and WIC….Our Public health provides many services as well; vaccinations, birth and death records, environmental services, and more….

Environmental services. Fancy that.

In January 2019, in the Daily Star-Journal:

Candidate filing ends for April 2 election
By Sue Sterling [….] Jan 16, 2019

WARRENSBURG — The filing deadline for city, school district and special district seats in the April 2 election ended at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 15.
The following candidates have filed to seek election:
[….]
Johnson County Community Health Services: Incumbent Kay Stauffer is opposed for re-election to a four-year term by Darlene Buckstead, James L. Williams and Vickie Cooperider.
[….]

[emphasis added]

In March 2018, a letter [pdf], from Darlene Buckstead – as of its writing, President of the Board of Johnson County Farm Bureau – to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources as part of the public comment related to the permitting of a CAFO located in western Johnson County which would hold 6,999 cattle on approximately 400 acres:

….I can understand neighbors of Valley Oaks having concerns. However, when they moved to that area, they knew they were settling into an agricultural area. Many of thee neighbors are active in agriculture themselves, but not on the scale of Valley Oaks. When new people in a neighborhood become alarmed at activities which have long been practiced, I feel it is incumbent on the newer people to adjust their expectations.

In summary, I believe the valley Oaks organization should be allowed to have their CAFO if they obtain appropriate permit from the DNR…

Uh, it’s the CAFO that’s new, right?

Because, no matter where we live in rural Missouri, we should expect we might have to live downwind from a 6,999 head of cattle CAFO operation? It’s a matter of scale.

In April 2019, in the Daily Star-Journal:

Opponents, supporters provide comments at CAFO permit hearing
SUE STERLING Staff writer Apr 4, 2018

…Darlene Buckstead, president of the Johnson County Farm Bureau, said she is in favor of farmers and farming.

“When you start shutting down agriculture, you’ll starve,” she said…

Given the public comment letter sent to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources that comment in the newspaper probably indicates support of the CAFO. But then, there were plenty of other people at the hearing opposed to the CAFO who were involved in agriculture who we’re pretty sure weren’t advocates of shutting down agriculture and forcing everyone to starve.

This month, in the Daily Star-Journal:

Four candidates vie for health board seats
By Sue Sterling [….] Mar 19, 2019

….Buckstead, 66, of rural Holden, holds an associate and master’s degrees in nursing, and bachelor degrees in history and education. She is presently employed at Cass Regional Medical Center. She has worked in health care for 50 years, including longterm care, acute care, emergency room and infection control over the years. She is active in her church, where she is pianist and a Sunday school teacher, and currently is teaching a sewing class to junior high school-aged students. She is a Farm Bureau member and a former 4-H leader.

She said her reason for seeking election is, “The health department, in one way or another, impacts the well-being of everyone in Johnson County. I would like to be involved in the organization….

Interestingly, there’s no mention of CAFOs.

So, for the future Johnson County Community Health Services board, are CAFO’s healthy for children and other living things?

It looks like we’ll find out after the April 2nd election.

Previously:

Now that’s a CAFO (March 18, 2018)

Now that’s a CAFO – comments addressed to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (March 21, 2018)

Suppose you threw a DNR CAFO hearing in Warrensburg and everyone came? (April 3, 2018)

Suppose you threw a DNR CAFO hearing in Warrensburg and everyone came? – photos (April 5, 2018)

Suppose you threw a DNR CAFO hearing in Warrensburg and everyone came? – Tabitha Schmidt, CEO President, Powell Gardens (April 5, 2018)

Suppose you threw a DNR CAFO hearing in Warrensburg and everyone came? – Karen Lux (April 5, 2018)

Suppose you threw a DNR CAFO hearing in Warrensburg and everyone came? – Al Weir (April 6, 2017)

Suppose you threw a DNR CAFO hearing in Warrensburg and everyone came? – Aimee Davenport on behalf of Powell Gardens (April 6, 2018)