There was a related article in the Wednesday, August 29 edition of the Des
Moines Register -- page 6D of the Business section.

Excerpts from this article:

LEADER QUITS FARM BUREAU OVER POLLUTION
By Perry Beeman

The president of the Floyd County Farm Bureau quit Monday , accusing the
organization of slanting a debate over controlling pollution from livestock
confinements.

Vince Rottinghaus said he also was angry that the local Farm Bureau voted
against the majority of Floyd County members, who supported passing a local
law that would address possible health threats from confinements.

The county [Floyd] is considering passing a law similar to one approved in
Worth County that restricts air emissions and other pollution from
confiement operations.
>>>>>clipped

"It was just a rigged show," said Rottinghaus, who runs a cattle feedlot and
grows corn and soybeans in the Charles City area.  "If Farm Bureau was going
to maintain credibility, they can't do things like that.  So I got mad and
quit."

Typically, the local Farm Bureau has policy positions that match the views
of the majority in the annual poll, said Vice President Maurice Johnson of
Floyd.

However, the majority of the 260 members attending Monday's annual
legislative session voted to wait until a legal challenge over Worth
County's livestock ordinance is complete.  [This paragraph doesn't seem to
state the same as the next paragraph.]

In the Floyd County poll, 69 favored a health-protection ordinance governing
confinements and 40 were opposed.  Another 52 weren't sure.  Rottinghaus
said the Farm Bureau has 1,400 members in Floyd County.

Rottinghaus, who was president for two years, said he was angered when the
Farm Bureau board refused to allow James Braun of Latimer, a state
environmental protection commissioner, and Dr. Stephanie Seemuth of
Northwood, who helped develop the Worth County ordinance, address memebers.

Instead, two farmers who opposed the Worth County ordinances and two Floyd
County health-board respresentatives who question the proposal addressed
Monday's meeting.

Johnson said an appearance by Braun or Seemuth was turned down because Farm
Bureau thought they might provoke an emotional debate.

----- Original Message -----
From: Debbie Neustadt <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, August 30, 2001 8:54 PM
Subject: Worth County ordinance against CAFO's is challenged

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