Late last year Linn County Commissioners proposed a Code Amendment PD23-0670. The issue concerns Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO) for which the commissioners had approved a one-mile setback from neighboring properties that contained dwellings. The action came because a company wants to establish a large CAFO in the Scio area that would produce millions of chickens annually.

“Linn County is one of Oregon’s most important agricultural hubs, and we have a longstanding tradition of protecting our right to farm,” reports Families for Affordable Food. “Dairy farms, feedlots, chicken barns and other operations have operated safely and within the law for many years in Linn County.”

Chicken farmers in Oregon are saying that over 1 million chickens were killed because of Bird Flu last year. They are asking why, at the same time, during an egg shortage were signs posted over the limited and expensive eggs at Winco that stated you can't get Bird Flu from eggs or chicken meat when it is cooked.

Linn County Commissioners Chair Roger Nyquist, Sherrie Sprenger and Will Tucker agreed to reopen a code text amendment process which they defined at a December 2023 meeting. The Planning Commission recommended a three-quarter mile setback and the original proposed text suggested a half-mile setback, so how did they end up with a one-mile setback? In reopening the issue, they want to include more stakeholders — such as cattle and swine breeders.

Notice was given for a hearing on June 11, then on June 18, 2024 the board will reconvene at 10 am to deliberate and make a decision. The public hearing is limited to written testimony only, which can be submitted through Families for Affordable Food website.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

The proposed amendments are to implement portions of SB 85 (2023) relating to the establishment of new large CAFO operations. However, the bill authorizes governing body of city or county to implement a setback or buffer but does not require a buffer between CAFO and adjacent land parcels. The bill reads:

“may require the new large confined animal feeding operation to include a setback or buffer, composed of a natural or created vegetative barrier, berm or terrain, in the production area of the new large confined animal feeding operation, if the parcel of land on which the new large confined animal feeding operation would be located is adjacent to a parcel on which:

1. A residential structure is lawfuly sited; or
2. A structure that was lawfully sited when constructed, but no longer conforms with or is allowed under new or changed land use requirements, is sited.

If it was the intent of the legislature to require a buffer zone, the bill won’t have said “may require.” At the rate of farming animals being destroyed, it won’t be long before the next pandemic will be over malnutrition and hypoproteinemia. If this misreading of the law is implemented in Linn County with Republican commissioners, then it will be used to weaponize all bureaucracies.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2024-06-17 15:01:10

Last Update: 2024-06-17 23:41:00