Dear Members of the Steuben County Planning Commission,

We, the undersigned residents of Steuben County and surrounding Tri State area, are writing to strongly oppose the application for special use of land for a beef raising facility with 8,000 head of cattle. We believe that this facility would have a detrimental impact on our community and natural resources, and we urge you to reject the application.

The proposed COFA facility would generate a significant amount of waste and pollution, including manure and chemical runoff from pesticides and fertilizers. This would not only harm the air and water quality in our community, but it could also contaminate local sources of drinking water and harm the health of our residents.

In addition, the large number of cattle at the facility would create noise and odor nuisances for nearby residents and businesses. This would decrease the quality of life for those living and working near the facility, and would even lead to a decrease in property values.

Furthermore, the facility would require a significant amount of water for the cattle, which could strain our local water supply and potentially lead to water shortages in the area. This would not only be detrimental to the environment, but it will also have negative economic impacts on our community.  Air quality, Groundwater and fish creek contamination will occur.  There are endangered species in the area.  

The properties adjacent to it will lose their value by up to 88%[1].  Large farms are contaminating according to the CDC and create more waste than some small cities.[2].  "Houseflies, stable flies, and mosquitoes are the most common insects associated with CAFO's.  Houseflies breed in manure, while stable and other flies breed in decaying organic matter, such as livestock bedding. Pathogens are concentrated in sources such as CAFOs and include ANTHRAX, EColi, Listeria, Salmonella, and Tetanus.  All of this is from the CDC report.  

We urge you to protect our community and natural resources by rejecting the application for special use of land for this COFA beef raising facility. We believe this will help to protect the future of our great county where many of us have resided our entire life.  

Letters of opposition to this application can be emailed to plancommission@co.steuben.in.us 

Sources

1. Midwest advocates  https://midwestadvocates.org/the-effect-of-cafos-on-neighboring-house-and-land-values

2. the CDC.  https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/ehs/docs/understanding_cafos_nalboh.pdf