A company is in the process of creating an “up to” 6,999 beef cattle confined animal feeding operation (CAFO) on 400 acres on U.S. 50 in western Johnson County, just west of Powell Gardens.

“Say No to Valley Oaks”

A number of neighbors are not at all happy.

A few of the comments [pdf] on the CAFO in Johnson County submitted to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources:

“…I am totally AGAINST this business venture because of the odor coming from such an operation. I would think it would be better for you to put this operation in a more remote area where there are not so many people living close by. I absolutely LOVE where I live, and would hate to see it ruined by said operation being located so close to where I live….I would hate to have my life ruined by having to smell animal manure and rotting flesh every.single.day….”

“…We have been impacted already by water pressure issues affecting our homes. Due to a lack of zoning in our area or ordinance governing this type of operation Mr. Ward has failed to provide surrounding landowners with information that could assure a responsible business owner is moving forward with this project…”

“…Plus the impact it will have on 50 Highway near the entrance to their operation. The semi-trailers have to take up to two lanes of the highway in order to even turn into their property… Another concern is that if they have problems turning onto their property from Highway 50, they could begin traveling down our neighborhood road, County Rd. 800. We, s residents, have paid, out of our own pockets, to have these roads paved and these trucks would surely tear up our roads and cost more in upkeep…”

“…Operations of 7[,]000 head of cattle are designated Class 1-A facilities and are subject to regular monitoring of odor emissions. If you have ever been around a feed lot of any kind, I’m sure you understand the problem with odor…How can having ONE cow less than 7,000 prevent these adverse effects? Is this being done on purpose to void regulation?…”

“…This will create ground water contamination which none of use need or want…”

“…The run off of the chemicals and blood from the laughter house facility, and with increase of up to 6,999 cattle, would go into the ground water, creeks, streams, waterway, aquifers, and wells in the area. A major natural waterway runs through the middle of the facility’s property….The use of water for the facility, due to having a 3″ water line at this time, is affecting the water pressure of nearby farms, and will drastically cause water pressure to drop with the need of more water as the facility enlarges…”

“…The odor will be unbearable. Last year we could smell the feedlot with the south wind. If that was only 500 head, 7,000 head will bring an unbearable smell….No matter how much of this they think they can control, there is no feasible way to house that many head of cattle in confinement without thee issues becoming a problem…”

“…ODOR. I am well aware this will fall into the 1B class CAFO facility where the only requirements are a 2,000 ft buffer from the nearest occupied residence (640.710 RSMo) Valley Oaks is smart enough to this as well and the very reason the proposed animal numbers are 6,999. 1 more head (7,000 Head) would put them as a 1A class CAFO which does require them to permit under the Departments Air Pollution Control Program….”

“…This is not good farming practice. No matter what anyone says. It may make sense money wise, but will have devastating environmental impacts, and destroy our land values…”

“…To consider approval of such a facility that has the potential of damaging or destroying the ecological wonder that is Powell gardens is not reasonable in my opinion…”

“…I am a geologist and I am aware that the aquifers in this area are mainly shallow Pennsylvanian Period sandstones and limestones, which because of their shallow nature are quite subject to groundwater contamination. These shallow aquifers are important to the rural people living in this are and undue risks of contamination should not be taken…”

And on and on and on. There are hundreds of comments, the vast majority are negative.

There will be a public hearing in Warrensburg on April 3rd:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 20, 2018
[….]
Department seeks public comments on draft water permit for Valley Oaks Steak Co.

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, MARCH 20, 2018 – The Missouri Department of Natural Resources is seeking public comments concerning the application for a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, or water permit, for Valley Oaks Steak Company LLC, Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation permit number MOG010872.

The department will hold a public hearing from 6 to 8 p.m., on April 3, in the Multi-Room BC of the Warrensburg Community Center, 445 E. Gay St., Warrensburg.

The hearing is to understand public concerns about Valley Oaks Steak Company LLC’s application for a new NPDES permit that authorizes the operation of the CAFO. Valley Oaks Steak Company LLC is located in Johnson County at 1921 W. 50 Highway, Lone Jack.

The focus of the hearing will be on whether the application for a new NPDES permit that authorizes the operation of the CAFO complies with permit requirements. For more information about the public hearing or Valley Oaks Steak Company LLC’s application for an NPDES permit, visit https://dnr.mo.gov/env/wpp/cafo or contact the Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ Water Protection Program at 800-361-4827 or 573-751-1300 or by mail at PO Box 176, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0176.

###

You can bet it will be well attended.

Previously:

Now that’s a CAFO (March 18, 2018)

“…The operation will include the construction of three 138′ wide by 720′ long barns, two 138′ wide by 1,600′ long barns, and one 138′ wide by 560′ long barn which will house the confined animals. The existing 150′ wide by 325′ long bam will be used for equipment .or other uses, not as an animal confinement area. A 90′ wide by 720′ long barn will be constructed as a: manure storage structure. The existing 82′ wide by 70′ long building will be expanded to a 255′ wide by 183′ long building that will be used as the beef processing center as well as an office. The existing 36′ wide by 192′ long commodity bam will be used to store feed for the cattle. Proposed animal numbers are 6,999 finishing cattle, including steers and heifers. Cattle manure will be stored onsite within the buildings, which will be cleaned out when storage is maximized, as necessary, or when manure is needed to be either bagged for commercial sale or applied to fields that will receive the manure as a fertilizer…” – a letter, from Terra Technologies to a resident of the Lone Jack area, dated January 30, 2018.

1600 feet is just over three tenths of a mile.

6,999 cattle? That’s a lot of manure.

On the north side of U.S 50, in Johnson County just east of the Jackson County line:

“Say No to Valley Oaks”

Interestingly, there’s a pro-CAFO sign on the south side of U.S. 50, west of 7.

From Lone Jack Neighbors for Responible Farming:

This confined animal operation began about a year or so ago with approximately 500-600 head of cattle (as some were verbally told). Valley Oaks would like to expand that to 6,999 – that number is important because it makes this operation a 1B CAFO with self-reporting and inspections every 6 months vs. a 1A operation of 7000 + head of cattle which has different regulations including odor regulations. Because Johnson County is an Agri-Ready county, the health dept cannot impose any health ordinances that limit or restrict agricultural operations(even though our opinion is this is a corporate “factory farm” – not agriculture. In addition, the MO Supreme court has decided that no CAFO is under any zoning regulations. Even if Johnson County MO (where the corporation actually operates) had zoning, it wouldn’t matter. The Econ. Dev. corp of Johnson county believes this is good for the county. The commissioners have told us to just get used to it. What we don’t think they understand is that this isn’t in the “country” as many of us understand that definition. It is surrounded by 100+ homes – many of those families are raising children. We are talking approximately 400+ people living within 2 miles of this operation to the east and north. Many more are also affected. There are family farms surrounding this facility. This isn’t your typical family farm. This is a corporate farm, factory farm, feedlot, slaughterhouse, meat market, and proposed retailer of bagged manure all in one spot. When one neighbor was finally notified of the permit to DNR for the corporation, they started going door to door, informing nearby residents of the action. In response, we have tried to educate ourselves on the impact of this CAFO. Comments are allowed up until the public hearing to Mr. Greg Caldwell with DNR. We have accomplished obtaining a public hearing from DNR and it will be held from 6 to 8 p.m., on April 3, 2018, at the Warrensburg Community Center, 445 E. Gay St., Warrensburg.

“…The commissioners have told us to just get used to it…”

That was probably a big mistake on their part.

There are a number of comment letters and e-mail [pdf] on the CAFO addressed to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. The vast majority are negative.

The Lone Jack Neighbors web site also includes a notice letter, a flood plain map for the expansion of the CAFO, and a 1.5 miles from Proposed Buildings Map.

Powell Gardens is to the east of the operation.

A search at the Missouri Secretary of State web site brings up the following:

Reg. Agent Entity Reg. Agent Name Reg. Office Address Represents Charter No. Status

Ward, Anthony 1921 West 50 Highway, Lone Jack, MO 64070
Valley Oaks Angus Farms II, L.L.C. Limited Liability Company (Domestic) LC1208760 Active

Ward, Anthony 1921 West 50 Highway, Lone Jack, MO 64070
VALLEY OAKS INVESTMENTS, L.L.C. Limited Liability Company (Domestic) LC0069576 Active

Ward, Anthony 1921 West 50 Highway, Lone Jack, MO 64070
Valley Oaks Angus Farms, L.L.C. Limited Liability Company (Domestic) LC0947687 Active

Ward, Anthony 1921 West 50 Highway, Lone Jack, MO 64070
Valley Oaks Steak Company, L.L.C. Limited Liability Company (Domestic) LC001475832 Active

Ward, Anthony 1921 West 50 Highway, Lone Jack, MO 64070
Valley Oaks Feeders LLC Limited Liability Company (Domestic) LC001499061 Active

Ward, Anthony 1921 West 50 Highway, Lone Jack, MO 64070
Valley Oaks Real Estate, L.L.C. Limited Liability Company (Domestic) LC001560422 Active

It looks like we’ll be covering a public hearing in Warrensburg on April 3rd.