Dairy magnate A.J. Bos lost another court battle over a massive industrial dairy near Nora, Illinois (see www.cfra.org/blog/2008/09/03/insult-injury-megadairy-style). A local grassroots organization – Helping Others Maintain Environmental Standards (HOMES) – prevailed in Bos’ attempt to move the case to federal district court. (The case was remanded to Jo Daviess County Circuit Court in Galena.) HOMES had already won a temporary injunction halting construction.

 

When I spoke at a HOMES forum in April they were excited about their victories. But they wanted to talk about creating a more sustainable farming system in Jo Daviess County.

 

Former state Representative (and Bos cheerleader) Ron Lawfer suggested that only livestock producers should have a voice in these decisions. He claimed that opponents “want every farm to have some chickens, a few sows and a cow.” I pointed out that between one cow and 22,000 cows lies a broad range of farm sizes, and everyone should have a voice in deciding the kind of livestock production we want in our communities.

 

The world’s largest beef packer says, “time to start growing again.” JBS CEO Joesley Batista is reticent about sharing details, considering the Justice Department stopped their purchase of National Beef last year because of antitrust concerns.

 

Another corporate farming nemesis is back. Validus was a for-profit subsidiary of the National Pork Producers Council that became involved in a shell game with Environmental Protection Agency grants funneled through the shadowy America’s Clean Water Foundation. Over $21 million passed from EPA to Validus, purportedly to conduct on-farm environmental assessments.

 

EPA eventually audited the foundation and demanded they return the $21 million. Then, long story short, the foundation disappeared in a cloud of smoke and Validus ran deep and quiet. Read www.cfra.org/newsletter/2007/08/corporate-farming-notes-1 for more of this bizarre story.

 

I was surprised in March when NPPC sold Validus to investors led by Validus CEO Earl Dotson. Perhaps something new is in the works, or perhaps it was time to bury the bodies and tie up loose ends. We’ll have more answers in next month’s corporate farming notes.

 

Contact: John Crabtree, johnc@cfra.org or 402.687.2103 x 1010 for more information.