Residents Concerned For Environment As Dairy Farm Proposes Expansion

As Smith
Valley Dairy in Lyon Country, Nevada makes moves toward expansion, a number of locals have voiced concerns for the environment as well as their quality of
life.

Hearing

The plans
were discussed at a recent public hearing – which gave attendees the option to
comment on the dairy’s existing and potential impact.

Roughly 35
people attended the event, and while public opinion was divided, many residents
expressed concerns about the business, as well as its potential growth.

Quality of
life

Ruth
Iverson addressed the facilities environmental impact from a
quality-of-life perspective.

She said
that she experiences ‘stench’ daily – living just two miles from the farm and
asked how expansion would impact air and water quality.

Impact

Emphasizing
environmental concerns, resident Robyn Delaney said: “I’m in opposition to
expansion of the dairy because of fear of groundwater pollution.”

Manure lagoon
spills are a common occurrence on industrial dairy farms, with businesses in
Indianapolis and British Columbia having recently received fines of up to $17,000 CAD
for such incidents.

Reading the
letter of a person unable to attend, Connie Kretschmer said: “Please be
the department of environmental protection instead of environmental pollution.”

The company used 39.52 million gallons of water and 2,444 tons of manure in 2017 feed production alone.

Supporters

However, some residents were in favor of the expansion – emphasizing potential profit over environmental impact.

David Neddenriep said: “If they can pinch another penny out
of their operation, more power to them.”

Also in favor, Matt Swain said: “If the dairy were drummed
out of the valley, the best they could do to recoup their losses might be to
sell their water rights outside the valley.”