I beg to differ in our situation.
The ground water nitrate level at Kus Skewes has increased to over the permitted level for safe drinking water since 1995. The only reasonable explanation is the intense Vegetable production and the use of fertilizers. We are told by the powers that be we should be grateful of the fact that the mega industrial egg processing plant will have the effect of reducing the ground water nitrate level, really!
The problem I have with this claim is very simple; we are told this is going to be a free range, happy hen, state of the art centre of excellence! BUT, no one knows how many hens will actually range and defecate outside rather than on the state of the art manure belts in the industrial sheds, so, how can anyone claim the nitrate levels will decrease.
We have questioned many times about the term “Free Range” we have been told the hens will range outside, eat grass, have a dust bath and enjoy life in the lovely Cornish summer weather, however, when we ask about the manure deposited on the range and the issue of nitrates in the ground water, we are told only 10% to 15% will actually range, so they are free range when concerns are raised in respect of welfare but not when questions are raised about nitrates, you just can’t have your cake and eat it lovelies!! Honesty is always the best policy.
We are told the solution to prevent manure entering our bore holes is the errection of a 50m exclusion zone via a circular fence! Considering the range slopes downhill towards the bore holes, lakes and wells, how can this possibly stop the run-off water carrying the manure over the exclusion zones?

We have a funding page set up to try and gain  funds for us to continue to fight the last stage of this very long battle. Please share and tell all about this, we can only hope our situation will set a precedent to stop others from trying to plaster our country in these industrial egg factories and stop the abuse of hens and pigs or any unethical food production.