Post by Moon Seeker on Sept 23, 2007 11:38:09 GMT -5
Thriving industry or community nuisance? Native American Co-op considering hog barns on Spirit Lake Reservation
By Sue Kraft Fischer - Lifestyles Editor
Published: Friday, September 21, 2007 11:02 AM CDT
Several meetings have been held to generate interest in creating a swine operation on the Spirit Lake Reservation - but not all members of the tribe are excited about it.
Yesterday an informational meeting was held at the Spirit Lake Casino to discuss the project and determine if there was enough interest to move forward.
Theresa Allery is on the board of directors for the Native American People Cooperative and is also serving as the project coordinator for the Hog Hoop Barn Development. She said the co-op received a grant from the USDA’s Small Minority Producer Grant Program and they plan to use the money for a number of projects including production of organic vegetables and, hopefully, the swine production facility.
Also serving on the board are Jerry Cavanaugh, Mike Baer, Curtis Walking Eagle and James Garrett. Those five are currently the only members in the co-op and if more people join, there will eventually be elections for the board members.
Daryl Dukart, General Manager of Cloverdale Growers Alliance, attended the meeting to give a slide presentation on hoop barns. He spoke about the cost of constructing the barns, the eventual profits to be made and the impact it will have on the surrounding community.
He said they are hoping to construct nine barns with about 200 pigs in each barn. The swine would be “finished” two or three times a year, at which times the barns would be cleaned and a new batch of pigs would be brought in.
“We can turn out 4,860 pigs annually,” he said.
The hoop barns are low-cost barns with a tarp stretched over the top. Dukart said the smell would be much less than large hog operations, because straw will be placed on the floor of the barn to absorb the odors and serve as a heater during the cool season.
“After the manure pack is roughly 12 inches deep it will be around 50 degrees in the surface of the bedding,” he said, adding, “it will take 6-8 weeks to get a 12-inch manure pack.”
Dukart said that unlike lagoons, the waste will be solid and can be transported to places that use animal waste as fertilizer. The only problem, he said, would be rain water that washes over the buildings - and for that they would need to find a place for the water to run naturally or construct some sort of basin capable of holding the water.
State law, he said, prohibits the barns from being built within one-half mile from the nearest home and at least 300 feet away from a moving stream.
He said the hogs would likely be imported from Canada and raised in the barns before being shipped to Minot for processing.
Bill Patrie, Director of Northcountry Cooperative Development Fund, was also on hand to discuss cooperatives and answer questions.
Patrie said they hope to market the pork as “Native American-raised hogs” and sell it to casinos throughout the state - making it a profitable venture for anyone who joins the co-op.
“Hoop barns are the least expensive way to get into hog production that we could find,” he said. “They are environmentally friendly and inexpensive.”
But not everyone was convinced.
Frank BlackCloud, of the EPA, questioned, “What type of statistics do you have to prove that it’s environmentally friendly?”
BlackCloud said he was sent to the meeting by tribal leaders to voice their opposition to the hog barns.
“I’ve seen the farms in Rosebud and it was a nightmare,” he said. “I hate to see a nightmare like that up here.”
BlackCloud said his main concern is the water supply on the reservation.
“We have some of the best water in North America,” he said, “and I’ll be d**ned if I’m going to let anything harm that.”
Patrie and the others assured him that the project is still in its early stages - they are trying to see if there is interest in the community and have not even considered locations yet. They also stressed that all aspects will be considered, including the impact it may have on the people and the environment.
After a lengthy discussion, BlackCloud’s tone softened. “They sent me here to tell you they don’t want this,” he said of the tribal council. “But, I’m going to go back and tell council ‘it’s got possibilities, you should listen to them.’”
Also in attendance was Noreen Cavanaugh, of the Spirit Lake tax department, who had several concerns.
“There are licensing issues,” she said. “Everything I’ve been hearing is under the basis of business... and what we’re doing needs licensing.”
She said that means the Canadian suppliers, the truck drivers and anyone else involved in the operation would need to be licensed through TERO to participate.
Cavanaugh said she also has a personal problem with the barns being built on the reservation.
“I’ve been hearing there’s potential to come to the Woodlake District - and that’s my district,” she said. “I have concerns about that.”
She said people have told her they are against the idea and she wouldn’t hesitate to fight the construction of the barns. “I would be willing to initiate a petition against it,” she said.
Allery again emphasized that the project is still in the discussion phase.
“We knew we would work with TERO and you, Noreen, but we aren’t at that point yet,” Allery said. “We’re just trying to see if people are interested.”
Both Cavanaugh and BlackCloud voiced their dismay that the meetings hadn’t been advertised better - and not many people knew these discussion were even taking place.
Allery said future discussions are planned and the dates and times will be well advertised to get maximum input from the community.
(For a copy of this News story see the Friday, September 21, 2007 Journal) 09/21/07
www.devilslakejournal.com/articles/2007/09/21/news/news01.txt
By Sue Kraft Fischer - Lifestyles Editor
Published: Friday, September 21, 2007 11:02 AM CDT
Several meetings have been held to generate interest in creating a swine operation on the Spirit Lake Reservation - but not all members of the tribe are excited about it.
Yesterday an informational meeting was held at the Spirit Lake Casino to discuss the project and determine if there was enough interest to move forward.
Theresa Allery is on the board of directors for the Native American People Cooperative and is also serving as the project coordinator for the Hog Hoop Barn Development. She said the co-op received a grant from the USDA’s Small Minority Producer Grant Program and they plan to use the money for a number of projects including production of organic vegetables and, hopefully, the swine production facility.
Also serving on the board are Jerry Cavanaugh, Mike Baer, Curtis Walking Eagle and James Garrett. Those five are currently the only members in the co-op and if more people join, there will eventually be elections for the board members.
Daryl Dukart, General Manager of Cloverdale Growers Alliance, attended the meeting to give a slide presentation on hoop barns. He spoke about the cost of constructing the barns, the eventual profits to be made and the impact it will have on the surrounding community.
He said they are hoping to construct nine barns with about 200 pigs in each barn. The swine would be “finished” two or three times a year, at which times the barns would be cleaned and a new batch of pigs would be brought in.
“We can turn out 4,860 pigs annually,” he said.
The hoop barns are low-cost barns with a tarp stretched over the top. Dukart said the smell would be much less than large hog operations, because straw will be placed on the floor of the barn to absorb the odors and serve as a heater during the cool season.
“After the manure pack is roughly 12 inches deep it will be around 50 degrees in the surface of the bedding,” he said, adding, “it will take 6-8 weeks to get a 12-inch manure pack.”
Dukart said that unlike lagoons, the waste will be solid and can be transported to places that use animal waste as fertilizer. The only problem, he said, would be rain water that washes over the buildings - and for that they would need to find a place for the water to run naturally or construct some sort of basin capable of holding the water.
State law, he said, prohibits the barns from being built within one-half mile from the nearest home and at least 300 feet away from a moving stream.
He said the hogs would likely be imported from Canada and raised in the barns before being shipped to Minot for processing.
Bill Patrie, Director of Northcountry Cooperative Development Fund, was also on hand to discuss cooperatives and answer questions.
Patrie said they hope to market the pork as “Native American-raised hogs” and sell it to casinos throughout the state - making it a profitable venture for anyone who joins the co-op.
“Hoop barns are the least expensive way to get into hog production that we could find,” he said. “They are environmentally friendly and inexpensive.”
But not everyone was convinced.
Frank BlackCloud, of the EPA, questioned, “What type of statistics do you have to prove that it’s environmentally friendly?”
BlackCloud said he was sent to the meeting by tribal leaders to voice their opposition to the hog barns.
“I’ve seen the farms in Rosebud and it was a nightmare,” he said. “I hate to see a nightmare like that up here.”
BlackCloud said his main concern is the water supply on the reservation.
“We have some of the best water in North America,” he said, “and I’ll be d**ned if I’m going to let anything harm that.”
Patrie and the others assured him that the project is still in its early stages - they are trying to see if there is interest in the community and have not even considered locations yet. They also stressed that all aspects will be considered, including the impact it may have on the people and the environment.
After a lengthy discussion, BlackCloud’s tone softened. “They sent me here to tell you they don’t want this,” he said of the tribal council. “But, I’m going to go back and tell council ‘it’s got possibilities, you should listen to them.’”
Also in attendance was Noreen Cavanaugh, of the Spirit Lake tax department, who had several concerns.
“There are licensing issues,” she said. “Everything I’ve been hearing is under the basis of business... and what we’re doing needs licensing.”
She said that means the Canadian suppliers, the truck drivers and anyone else involved in the operation would need to be licensed through TERO to participate.
Cavanaugh said she also has a personal problem with the barns being built on the reservation.
“I’ve been hearing there’s potential to come to the Woodlake District - and that’s my district,” she said. “I have concerns about that.”
She said people have told her they are against the idea and she wouldn’t hesitate to fight the construction of the barns. “I would be willing to initiate a petition against it,” she said.
Allery again emphasized that the project is still in the discussion phase.
“We knew we would work with TERO and you, Noreen, but we aren’t at that point yet,” Allery said. “We’re just trying to see if people are interested.”
Both Cavanaugh and BlackCloud voiced their dismay that the meetings hadn’t been advertised better - and not many people knew these discussion were even taking place.
Allery said future discussions are planned and the dates and times will be well advertised to get maximum input from the community.
(For a copy of this News story see the Friday, September 21, 2007 Journal) 09/21/07
www.devilslakejournal.com/articles/2007/09/21/news/news01.txt