Concerns Raised About Proposed Gage County Swine Operation

By Gordon HopkinsA local citizen is requesting additional review before a proposed swine operation is granted approval for construction in Gage County.The Island Grove Summit Swine operation, proposed by Iowa-based Summit Pork, would create a 6,250 head swine operation along South 82nd Road, between Pickrell and Adams. The facility would be constructed on land owned by Dean Otto, who filed an application for a special use permit.According to Carl Jacobson with Summit Pork, the barn would be a feeder-to-finish operation where hogs would enter the barn at around 50 pounds and be fed to market weight. Jacobson estimated that finished hogs would be moved out and new groups moved in around 2.75 times per year. The facility would use the liquid manure produced by the operation to inject as fertilizer on its farm ground and sell the excess manure for application elsewhere.Clint Rule of rural Liberty spoke at a meeting of the Gage County Board of Supervisors on Wednesday, June 28, 2023. He is concerned that the road may not be up to handling the anticipated increase in traffic. Rule said an engineer looked at the road and said it is not acceptable for that kind of traffic.Rule requested that an engineer or someone from the safety board to look at the road and assess whether the condition of the road is safe for this. The road is part of a school bus route and Rule said he is concerned for the safety of the children. Rule said he would like a report done and placed on file so it can be public. Rule also recommended that the Board of Supervisors review the CAFO (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation) regulations before making any decisions on approving the facility.On March 9 of this year, the Lower Big Blue NRD (Natural Resources District) approved a permit for the drilling of a well for the project, which would commingle with an existing well. According to the minutes of that meeting, the two wells would each pump less than 50 gallons per minute.Jacobson indicated each pig is estimated to consume between one and 1.5 gallons per day per hog space. He told the Lower Big Blue NRD board that Summit’s goal is to be as water conscious as possible, since any excess water creates more waste to be dealt with.

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