If you are not opposed to the expansion explained below, please take a moment to sign our petition! We will be forever grateful! 

Background: We are an existing family-owned farm located outside of Valley Springs. We are hoping to attain a Class C CAFO (250-999 animal units) permit for our cattle operation as well as a building permit to put up a structure to use for spring calving. Both measures are essential to grow and sustain our farming business. With our plans and provisions in place, we do not believe this will cause a negative effect on Valley Springs and the surrounding area. 

If you have any questions or concerns, please visit us out our open house on April 22nd, 9am-11am at Zomer Farms: 26326 487th Ave. Valley Springs, SD.

If you are not able to make our open house, please contact John Zomer (property owner) at 605-359-7206 or johnz@zomertrucks.com

Frequently Asked Questions: 

1. What Class CAFO are we and how many head of cattle are on our property? 

Answer: We are currently permitted as a Class D (50-249 animal units), but we have maintained more than 250 head of cattle for a number of years, therefore operating as a Class C. This was possible because the additional head over 249 consist of our breeding herd, which are rotated from our farm to fields or pasture and are not considered "in confinement". 

2. What measurements will be taken to minimize odor?

Answer: The barn itself is designed to reduce odor by using a deep bed that collects waste from the cows and stores inside the building. There is a designated area with walls to temporarily store and load out manure from the barn; it is valuable as fertilizer. The barn site on the property is lower than the City of Valley Springs (downhill). The county permit will include requirements such as rows of trees that provide both screening and odor dispersal. The location of the building was chosen to minimize impact off the property. Other practices to handle and incorporate manure into soil on crop fields as fertilizer reduce the odor. We must follow state and federal rules. Together, these steps provide a downhill operation that doesn’t produce and overwhelming cattle smell to start with and disperses the odor we do produce. 

3. Will this create increased traffic through Valley Springs?

Answer: This operation will not create a traffic problem (we are not like a dairy that would have daily truck traffic for milk transport and incoming supplies/materials). We don’t expect a big increase in truck traffic and the trucks will want to operate on routes and times that avoid delays or heavy traffic.

4. Will the new building be visible from town?

Answer: The new barn will be downhill and away from town. We do not expect anyone living in Valley Springs to be able to see the new barn (other than some locations being able to see the roof). All aspects of the operation and the location of the proposed barn were considered, including future operation as new parts of the city are annexed or added. The controls and requirements set forth in the application allow us to be compatible. 

5. How will this affect property values? 

Answer: We do not expect the new expansion to negatively impact property values for Valley Springs and its residents. We expect the county will address any questions raised at the permit hearing and we are prepared to offer sales data or other evidence to show no impact. Additionally, we have seen through the new housing development on the south end of town directly across from and in sight of an existing hog operation, that there was no negative impact on property values. There has also been a significant increase in these property values as well as others in Valley Springs. 

Photos: 

Google Earth image of proximity of our property/new building to surrounding area

Surveyor Site Plan

Close Up Surveyor Site Plan