Agricultural run-off, from hog and poultry facilities, have been responsible for polluting fifty percent of the streams in the state of Missouri. Several years ago, large-scale agricultural operations caused one-third of Missouri's fish deaths.

In an agreement reached several weeks ago, Premium Standard Farms (PSF) has agreed to pay six counties in Northern Missouri $25 million to clean up PSF's violations of the Clean Water Act, which is the largest environmental settlement with a hog factory in the country. PSF, one of the biggest polluters of Missouri waterways, owns 85,000 hogs and processes more than 2 million hogs on more than 30,000 acres in northern Missouri.

Advocates for small-scale farmers like the Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement (CCI) and Missouri Rural Crisis Center, partners with The General Board of Global Ministries (GBGM) and local churches of The United Methodist Church in advocating for small-scale farmers, say the settlement is not nearly enough.

According to Hugh Espy of the Iowa CCI, mega-farms like PSF cause damage to communities beyond devastating the environment. Espy cites the destruction of people's health, their quality of life and their property values. "The facilities have to be held accountable," Espy says.

Rhonda Perry of the Missouri Rural Crisis Center, a network that works with 3,000 farm families, calls the agreement between the State Attorney General and PSF, "a sell-out."

Perry and the Crisis Center are concerned that the state settlement pre- empts citizens' suits by settling all claims in one fell swoop without public participation. Other concerns include the amount of $25 million which was reduced from a previous discussion of $75 million. Perry points out that the negotiations have not addressed the consequences of future violations or environmental standards to be upheld.

The GBGM of the United Methodist Church has supported projects like the Iowa CCI through the Town and Country Ministries. In 1998, for example, the GBGM provided $7,000 to the Iowa CCI to help small-scale farmers take action on hog factories in their communities.

In March 1999, at the 14th annual Town and Country Consultation, United Methodist Rural Chaplain Judy Heffernan of the sponsoring organization, the Heartland Network in Missouri, another project supported by GBGM, lifted up churches as the place to share the stories of rural America.

The Reverend Heffernan said churches offer rituals and liturgies to help family farmers deal with and heal from hardships and to find a sense of belonging. Individuals and churches are asked to pray with and for farmers as they struggle to maintain their livelihoods.

For more information on hog farming, see previous articles:

• Iowa Family Farmers Speak Out
• Family Farmers Smell Trouble as Hog Factories Hog the Market

• Struggles of the Rural America Shared

July 2, 1999