Like I will say again, stupid libral city people, thinking with their emotions instead of their brains, nothing but libral junk science by people who have never been on a farm let alone worked on one, go hug a tree

Well jterry1955, if you want to drink milk loaded with hormones, use water from the same trough cows pee in and eat meat full of antibiotics be my guest. I won’t try to stop you but my reality is different. Why should I and millions of Americans put their health in jeopardy because of flawed agricultural policies? Monoculture farming may seem to provide a healthy, inexpensive and plentiful food supply but in reality it does not. Current agriculture policies put forth by our Department of Agriculture do not result in sustainable farming practices. The only way most farmers can survive in the current system is to receive subsidies and grow lots and lots of only one crop. How much do you think that gallon of milk costs when you add in the subsidies given farmers? Practical and sustainable agriculture depends on diversity. There is a balance in nature you cannot duplicate using chemicals, genetic engineering or drugs. Why are cows fed corn when their digestive systems were meant to digest grass? Here is why; we grow too much corn so it’s cheap and when mixed with protein keeps cows alive, not healthy. So to keep them healthy its necessary to inject them with drugs. Adopting and supporting sustainable farming practices will allow farmers to be self sufficient, produce healthier and better tasting food, reduce pollution and result in healthier animals. Or you can continue to bury your head in the manure and pretend what you eat and drink isn’t killing you. I didn't realize the desire to drink clean water and eat better food was based on "liberal" thinking. To me it's simply common sense.

PanamaRed, why don't you go out and have a tofu, vegi burger, and then hug your pet tree, us earthlings have to go out and mingle the non - librals of the world, in other words we live in reality

The environmental impact is only one of the issues surrounding industrial agricultural operations. I hope the day will come when Americans begin judging monoculture agriculture not by its objectives but by its unintended consequences to our environment and our health. The Department of Agriculture’s intent has been to streamline, modernize and automate the agriculture industry all in the interest of higher profits. But the consequence has been to concentrate power and money in the hands of a few, to drive down prices and to create a national surplus of product that forces small agricultural producers out of business. All of which is sustainable only by a growing dependence on government subsidies. The consequence has also led to improper animal confinement practices; animal feeding regiments designed for profit instead of animal health and farmers becoming completely dependent on chemical insecticides and similar methods of controlling insects and diseases. Bovine digestive systems were designed for grasses but instead they are fed high fat, protein rich diets laced with hormones (steroids) and antibiotics to increase production. Some of the protein in their diet consists of eating ground animal meal. Yes, cows are herbivores but are fed meat for protein. Why? Because profit margins demand we get the most out of each animal even if it requires steroid use plus large herds kept in close quarters compels “farmers” to continuously inject antibiotics as a means of maintaining animal health. Monoculture farming has resulted in higher rates of E. coli bacteria in our food and poses a future health risk stemming from the overuse of antibiotics besides contaminating our water sources. If the Larsons want to expand they should buy a neighboring farm. We have it backwards; our housing should be concentrated while our farms should be sprawling out allowing nature the opportunity to maintain a healthy balance. Our future depends more on the quality of our food than the quantity. I have nothing against the Larsons, they are only working within the current system, but allowing the expansion does much more harm than good. The ultimate price will be paid with our health.

People should be concerned with ground & surface water contamination, and food safety and QUALITY. Watch Frontline's "Poisoned Waters" on line, or Food, Inc. (Netflix, library or Blockbuster) Both flicks illustrate the dangers of factory farms.

hey 2dognight, i recently read an article that states that all residents of wisconsin are actually aliens from another planet! someone wrote it so it must be true! i saw it on tv too so it has to be true! maybe a link to this article or a name of the source would be helpful next time. while i don't doubt that there are contaminants in the water its not nearly so bad as most people think... i mean we did survive for thousands of years without purifying our water, i wonder how we did that? and yes i understand that we ourselves are putting more contaminants in the water nowadays but i think people get waaay to carried away with filtered or bottled water and germs. its called an immune system, get one.

They have tested the water before and NEVER been able to prove anything that led back to the larson's. There are many other farms in the area. I agree with the comment about the neighbors moving from town, and now not liking the smell. Because that is what part of this is about. This is the country people, if you don't like the smell, go back to your crowded , polluted town. Evansville's water has been in question more in the last five year's than Larson's ever has. In fact just this fall, the city sent out a letter stating 'boil the water', 3 weeks after the fact. It was suppose to be the biggest risk to the sick, elderly, or babies.

has anyone ever thought thay MAYBE the Larsons realize that taking care of thier waste is in evryines interest? I really do not think that they want to drink unsafe water or haven't you liberal anti - " factory farms " pinheads thought about that

I would surely recommend that everyone test their own well and then get a reverse osmosis filter
to be sure that the water ia drinkable.
Nitrates in the water mean that probably other chemicals are there too.
I saw an article that said Wisconsin has about the most poluted drinking water anywhere.
Rock county has 1 in 6 wells contaminated??
Check with the Rock County Public Health Department.

jterry- most of the complainers are people downstream from the farm who have to drink the water from their wells; water heavy with nutrients (mostly) from the Larson farms. You would complain if it was your water, too.

jterry, this article doesn't interest me in the least. I just wanted to say to you DID YOU GET UP ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE BED?? Also, you can spell check, it makes more sense. Otherwise, Have a good day! JMO

I will be willing to bet that the vast majority of the people who do not like the Larson Farm are city people who moved out to the country to experience " the wonderful world of the countr" ( what a bunch of idiots ) and now that they are being a little incovienced by the sites and smells of a working farm they want the world to cater to their myopic views on life, well who was their first???

I just hope Larson can make damn sure his operation does not pollute ground water. I believe this is the main concern about this expansion. I also hope they don't over-turn the decision to allow on site water testing.

Officials will review public input and decide within 30 days whether to issue an operating permit.

Meanwhile, the dairy’s owner, Mike Larson, said construction at the farm is ongoing.

“We plan on moving into the facility this spring,” he said. “We think we’ll be milking in May.”

I think its great what the Larson's have done out there. But I would be very nervous about doing all this work, using this money, and then have some one decide if they get the operating permit or not. It seems backwords.