Your view: Hog farms critical part of feeding world

I would like to start out saying that I am an employee of Jackson-Jennings Co-op and have been for 17 years and that it is a great company to work for and for the community. This will save everybody time from researching it after they read this letter so that they can comment.

My purpose for writing is not to argue, but to educate. I would like for the people against the proposed swine-feeding facility near Brownstown to understand that they are against agriculture and feeding the world for the future.

I am sure that not many of you know but, at the current growth in population, we will need 100 percent more food than what is produced now in the next 40 to 50 years. We continue to lose land every day whether it be to factories, shopping malls, roads or new homes.

Guess what. We still all have to get along and live together.

So back to how are we going to continue to feed the world with less land to produce grain and livestock? We have to figure out ways to produce more on less. That may mean genetically modified seed to produce higher yields or building concentrated feeding facilities that are scientifically engineered to accommodate livestock with the best possible environment for health and growing conditions.

These buildings have no manure stored outside, so there is no chance of runoff into streams, ponds, ditches or lakes. When it is applied to the land, it is injected into the soil at rates that are required from a nutrient management plan, which I am positive is lower than the rates of fertilizer most of you apply on your yard.

So I guess what I am saying is that if farmers can’t build these buildings on their own land, the world is going to starve or there are going to be a lot of homes with 12 chickens, two pigs and a milk cow in the back yard, and I am pretty sure they aren’t going to beat on your back door to see if they can come in and use your rest room.

So for the most part, what I am trying to say is that the town is coming to the country, the country isn’t coming to town. I am sure there will be several people to debate this, and feel free, but I don’t have the time for it, because of the fact I am doing what I can to help farmers feed you and the rest of the world.

Eric Hoene

Seymour, Ind.