Bismarck, North Dakota News

" Just to clarify my last statement before I am accused of negativity against the dairy industry - I was just pointing out the smell, I love my dairy products, and 'kudos' to all those producers (both large and small) willing and able to work with dairy cattle and also to the citizens willing to live close to them without complaining about their necessary contribution to society... "

" I sited the Price feedlot as an example of the feedlot that Mr. Berger is proposing to construct as opposed to a 'confined dairy operation'... But according to your logic feedlots are different and smell worse if its a Berger and not a Price (even though I would assume the State Health Dept.'s regulations are the same for all) and if there are more houses in the vicinity cattle smell worse? Which there are really not 200 houses 'close' to the proposed site - most of the houses I've seen in the vicinity are farms. Also, I would ABSOLUTELY live ON THE SITE, yes, I mean in the yard with the feedlot - I don't think it smells any worse than normal barn/manure and quite frankly I think it doesn't smell near as bad as dairy cattle manure. Just my opinion of course.... "

" TO Exasperated: WHY ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE PRICE FEEDLOT???, FRED BERGER IS PROPOSING TO CONSTRUCT THIS 10,000 CATTLE FEEDLOT, NOT PRICE!!!! "

" Looks like maybe Fred should move his feedlot to Strasburg. "

" To: Exasperated- The Price feedlot had only a total of 8 houses around it, Mr.Berger's proposed feedlot would have about 200 houses around it, maybe you were comparing "apples to oranges"! Plus you can get sick from hydrogen sulfide fumes from any large feedlot from the manure, it is not healthy too live that close to a 10,000 head of cattle feedlot!!! If you think it is sooo great why don't you build a house right next to the proposed site and enjoy the smell! "

" Don't we already have a gas plant right on the edge of town and Kist livestock right in town? This will be 10 miles out of town and 2 miles from the nearest development. You're talking about clean air and people thriving? Give me a break. Let the guy try to run his feedlot and closely monitor his operation. "

" He should have said hydrogen sulfide, not hydrogen peroxide.

How about this for a solution- signed contracts by the county and Mr. Berger that say air quality and water quality must be met or he faces still fines or will be shut down. Say .01 ppm over current levels, for H2S at the current city limits. Anything greater and he gets a fine. This should ensure that everyone is confident in the current distance. You could have a string of meters to ensure that the gas is coming from the feedlot, ensuring that the refinery and lagoons are not responsible. "

" First it's hydrogen sulfide not peroxide! Mr Roos you live in Strasburg not Morton County so thankfully you will have no say-it is endless the opinions of people that have no bearing. I don't mind opinions-I'm not against them but please try to get the facts straight before writing a letter. We are all so incredibly concerned about the economy-how bought we try to put an end to the unlimited truckloads of cattle coming into our country every day from Canada? We need some industry in this county! "

" Alvin,
It saves money to mass produce livestock for meat on a feedlot, compared to raising a dozen or so here and a few there.
I don't want to hear you complain the next time you want a reasonably priced slice of meat to grill as you watch someone blow off 16,000 firecrackers on main street during the next 4th of July. "

" People, are you listening? Are you in reality? Because the reality is the vast majority of beef in this country is finished in feedlots. Smaller producers (unless its for private consumption) sell their cattle at local sale barns where cattle buyers purchase their cattle and finish them at feedlots for mass consumption. We should all eat organic? While this is a novel idea it's hardly realistic - cost, quantity, etc., etc., etc... And once again we keep hearing about the smell.... Did you attend the last county commission meeting in Mandan? Have you heard how close some of the neighbors are to the Price feedlot? Less than a mile are probably million dollar homes across the river and most of these people DID NOT EVEN KNOW that there was a feedlot, an 8000 HEAD feedlot located there. Well-managed operations are safe and NECESSARY! Every time a producer in ND attempts to expand or relocate they are met with this ridiculous outcry and those that have passed and are in operation have had ZERO complaints. Price's also let those in attendance at the aforementioned meeting know that they are heavily regulated and closely monitored, as they should be. Why do we keep doing this? I am personally proud that we have opportunities to keep ag production (of all kinds) in this great agricultural state of North Dakota rather than shipping it out of state. Also, I believe the incident in Thief River Falls that keeps being mentioned was a confined (as in indoor) DAIRY - "comparing apples to oranges"? "

" GOOD EDITORIAL!!! EVERYONE, DON'T FORGET THE MEETING ON THURSDAY JULY 17, AT 5:30 IN THE BASEMENT OF THE MANDAN COURTHOUSE TO DISCUSS THE PROPOSED 10,000 HEAD OF CATTLE FEEDLOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
COME AND VOICE YOUR CONCERNS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! "

" JustMe, every living thing produces it. JustGoogle it! "

" I think Mr. Roos would have been better served by doing some research before he writes a letter to the editor. The cattle you see "roving" the range are cows, not livestock being fattened for consumption. TW "

" Hydrogen Peroxide eh?

Are you sure about that? Maybe before you go bashing a subject such as this you should read a little more into it..... "

" Mr. Roos, thank you for your well written and well thought out letter. I completely agree with all your thoughts on this very important issue and decision. Once the feedlot is built and is in operation and discovered to be a hazard or a terrible nuisance it will be nearly impossible to remove or close. "