Bismarck Tribune - North Dakota News - Weighing the consequences

Weighing the consequences

Jul 18, 2008 - 04:06:03 CDT

By JO ANN and GENE ZAHURSKY-KLEIN
Mandan

We’re concerned about the 10,000 head of cattle to be relocated on the site that Jason Wirtz said would be “very conducive to put a feedlot on,” approximately 10 to 15 miles northwest of Mandan, where the prevailing wind is from the northwest.

My husband, Gene and I ride our motorcycle around different parts of the country every summer and we can both testify that the stench of feedlots radiates much farther than a 10-mile radius and permeates the region where the feedlots are located. The odor has a high ammonia content that is very offensive. The EPA News, on March 31, 2006, said “Animal wastes are typically high in nutrients, including ammonia and other pollutants, which can cause decreased oxygen levels in receiving waters. Cattle feedlot wastewater may also contain a number of bacterial and viral pathogens (such as E. coli) as well as parasites (such as cryptosporidium). Illness caused by ingestion of these microorganisms can result in gastroenteritis, fever and kidney failure.”

We live in Mandan and are cheered by the recent efforts of our city to clean up the diesel fuel under the city, remediate the downtown district and create a renaissance zone. Ken LaMont, our outgoing mayor said “It was the beginning of our opportunity to become what we can be.”

We hear over and over that this is one of the most pivotal points in Mandan’s history. We need to seriously weigh the consequences of the proposed feedlot (and the existing one which is too close to the river) and how it will impact the future livability of our city.

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Comments

Save our Lifestyle wrote on Jul 28, 2008 6:31 PM:

" Crown Butte is listed on the internet as the following: Crown Butte, the butte (hill/mound), is also a wildlife management area and is located in Township 140 North, Range 82W, Section 31, and is about 3 miles north of Interstate 95 and Crown Butte Lake.
Looks like Morton County Commissioners don't care about the wildlife that they were elected to protect either. Say GOOD-BYE to the EAGLES and their nesting area. "

DodgeLover wrote on Jul 18, 2008 9:23 PM:

" Who is going to see this proposed beef from Mr. Berger's feedlot? Look somewhere else because you are not going to see it in this neighborhood. Feedlots feed cattle and ship them out - the name of the game. Unless Mr. Berger puts in for a slaughterhouse permit. cough cough.... "

A dollar says wrote on Jul 18, 2008 4:44 PM:

" A dollar says that truckers would be willing to get paid a little more to haul in some feed verses bringing an empty truck. "

worried about ranchers wrote on Jul 18, 2008 4:05 PM:

" seriosly pull your head out and read what i said . i was talking about feed not land. Any person with a feed lot like what berger wants is going to get contracts from local farmers for garentied feed and the local ranchers will be forced to buy feed farther away at a higher cost. If I were a local rancher id be very worried about the future if we keep having dry years and cant raise enough feed for my cattle. "

seriously wrote on Jul 18, 2008 3:51 PM:

" You seriously think that Mr. Berger's feed lot will take up land so local ranchers will not be able to feed their cattle? Are you kidding me? "

worried about ranchers wrote on Jul 18, 2008 3:08 PM:

" as i see it bergers lot will buy up all the availble feed for his lot and all the local farmer ranches will be forced to go farther to buy feed during drought times as a result they will be force to pay higher cost for the same feedthat berger is hoging up locally they will soon be forced to sell off and go out of business is this what the county commisionerswant more unemplyment in morton county and lack of tax base coming in gee i see a bad future for mortan county guess i need to move to a better place where the government look out for the general population not big businessand i will be looking forward to a recall vote on those who act againt the general population "

Jo Ann wrote on Jul 18, 2008 11:28 AM:

" I did submit this letter on Tuesday July 15 before the meeting on July 17 that decided to approve the permit. "

nice job wrote on Jul 18, 2008 11:25 AM:

" GOOD JOB ON THE EDITORIAL!
CHECK OUT THE WEBSITE: SAVECROWNBUTTE.COM "

Blowing on the Wind wrote on Jul 18, 2008 10:26 AM:

" Have to laugh at the snide comments here, as it is par for the Bis/Man course. The stench will cover Bismarck eventually, and that fact will put the town back into the dark ages it has been trying so hard to escape.

Cities with feedlots are notorious for stinking. Even if the smell isn't too bad, the mega-feedlot reputation is one that will cost Bismarck/Mandan much more than they'll ever get out of that pile of cow dung. "

warmachine wrote on Jul 18, 2008 9:58 AM:

" The stench, pollutants and pathogens emitted from 10,000 motorcycles is, perhaps, on a par....but I digress. "

rs wrote on Jul 18, 2008 9:28 AM:

" get over it~ we need meat so move on "

Annex it all wrote on Jul 18, 2008 8:55 AM:

" Maybe the City of Mandan should annex ALL of Morton County to prevent this pesky agriculture stuff that some people keep insisting on doing. As for me, I get my food from the grocery store! "

MamaMia wrote on Jul 18, 2008 8:37 AM:

" You'll have to file suit like all the others. Sounds like it's a done deal for now. "

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