Fishing is Great In Phoenix NY
Living here is also Great
(Let's not Change it)
| To the editor: I am writing to encourage residents to contact their local government officials regarding Bion Technologies’ proposal to establish the largest beef cattle factory farm (72,000 head of cattle), east of the Mississippi, an ethanol plant and a slaughter facility in and around the town of Schroeppel. While I applaud the effort by the town of Schroeppel board to look for employment opportunities and growth, I would like to share my findings from the Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. Most of the proposed jobs, I believe, would be in the care of the animals and in the slaughter facility. According to the OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) dated May 2009 — farm workers, farm and ranch animals, earn an estimated mean hourly wage of $11.41 that translates to a mean annual wage of $23,740. The OES estimates slaughters and meat packers earn a mean hour wage of $11.42 that translates to a mean annual wage of $23,740. Depending on the size of the family, these wages could be low enough to utilize all the services provided in Oswego County including free and reduced school lunches, food stamps, Medicaid and housing and heat subsidies. Rumors are circulating that the plan may now include nine factory farms of 8,000 head of cattle each around Oswego County instead of one big 72,000 head cattle farm. That means that the taxpayers must also consider wear and tear expenses on the various roadways that will carry the feed, manure and cattle to their various destinations. I am only guessing but I believe property values may decrease for those living near one of the nine factory farms or along one of the truck routes. Lower property values mean a lower tax base to pay for the additional governmental expenses incurred for this enterprise. Bion Technologies Inc. is a development company and their website suggests they will utilize government subsidies for this project in Oswego County. Government funded environmental impact studies would need to be conducted by EPA and DEC. In terms of industrial geography, once an industry is developed in an area other similar industries tend to locate nearby. If one factory farm of 8,000 head of cattle is developed, other factory farms may have an easier time getting started. In light of the ongoing oil spill disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, do we want to risk our fresh water aquifers and wet lands to unproven technology? If it does fail, who pays? I see no long-term or even short-term benefit to most citizens of Oswego County. Please ask your lawmakers to help stop this project before it gets started. Noreen Patterson Phoenix |
72,000-Cow CAFO: Revitalizing Rural New York, or Ousting Small Farms?January 21st, 2010 By Ulla Kjarval  My family operates a grass-fed beef and lamb farm in Meredith, NY. I am on a New York state beef producers email list that shares information on beef news in New York, and when I received an email about a proposed CAFO that would house 72,000 cows, I was alarmed. Not only is the scale extremely big (it would be the largest CAFO east of the Mississippi) but it was being advertised as sustainable. I began to reach out to my personal network of academics and beef farmers and was surprised by the differing reactions. The resulting conversations and viewpoints brought to light the complexity of our current agricultural debate and the dire situation most rural economies find themselves in, especially in upstate New York. Our family opposes the proposed CAFO for many reasons, some of which include animal welfare, a possible decrease in the allure of local New York state Beef, and the fact that we encounter many issues of inadequate infrastructure, such as long waits for slaughter spots for our cattle and lambs. We also pay high taxes and get very little back in the way of help from the state. In fact, sometimes we feel as if the state is trying to put us out of business. Currently New York has no true beef market and many of our calves get shipped out west to feedlots, disadvantaging many beef producers instate. Not only that, we have a general dearth of independently-owned USDA processing plants that makes many direct-sale farms impossible. This CAFO promises to source its cattle from local dairy and beef farms, and this makes it popular with some beef producers because currently we have no such system. As someone who has gone to many a livestock auction, I am skeptical of this, as there is no reason that they cannot fudge “local.” The fact that Bion Environmental Technologies, Inc., the company behind the proposed CAFO, is being welcomed with open arms by a struggling upstate community belies the need we have for infrastructure that would support a vibrant and profitable rural economy. I would love for New York state and the federal government to find a way to promote more USDA slaughter houses, or help young people utilize the almost 3 million acres of unused pastureland in New York alone. The question that lingers is what sort of tax breaks, subsidies and infrastructural support Bion Environmental Technologies, Inc will receive. Bion would serve as a “closed loop” ethanol plant. Corn would be shipped from the Midwest via Lake Ontario through Oswego’s port and turned into ethanol. The byproducts would be fed to cattle and the manure from the cattle would be used to create energy for the ethanol plant. When asked if state or federal tax dollars were going to be used for the project, Bion’s response was veiled but telling: “A number of state and federal programs exist to provide support for the creation of jobs, generation of renewable energy and the improvement to agricultural infrastructure and markets. Those are public programs available to entities that meet their eligibility requirements and Bion will seek to avail itself of those programs…” Obviously, Bion wants to cash in on government subsidies that promote corn and ethanol production and the 72,000 beef cattle would be a profitable byproduct of the ethanol production. With government monies focused on buzz words like “sustainable,” we must start to define what real food means to us. It must nourish our bodies and treat animals with dignity, but also give a decent wage to farmers and reinvest money into rural America in long-term and meaningful ways. We have to rethink what true sustainability is and focus on helping rural economies, but this cannot be done without rethinking government policies that favor corn and ethanol |
If proposed plant goes through the Port of Oswego would become a hub for corn shipped in from the Mid-West. Karen Hall and her family are farmers in Upstate, NY and live in the town where a proposed mega cattle finishing facility is planned to be built. The company behind the project have already received town board approval but as Karen Hall, points out in her interview, there are many unfortunate risks that need to be looked into before such a large project is undertaken. To think that such a large amount of cattle (about 72,000) would be so close to a populated area with vital rivers is enough to rethink this new plant. It is always refreshing and important to hear from local residents and farmers. You are fighting the proposed cattle finishing facility and ethanol plant in your community. Can you tell me a bit about yourself and why you are fighting this? My name is Karen Hall. My family owns a horse breeding operation and we are very concerned about the ramifications of this project for many reasons. If there are diseased animals (which is inevitable with facilities of this type) all animals within a certain radius will need to be destroyed. This would obviously devastate our family business. There are several restaurants and stores in the vicinity that would be negatively affected as well. Can you tell me about your community and how you think it will be impacted by a facility of this size? Schroeppel is surrounded by three rivers, many aquifers and it is roughly a half an hour south of Lake Ontario. It has been hoped that fishing and tourism would be a draw for our area. A facility such as this would certainly not be conducive to attracting tourists. There really is no place this plant could be situated where it will not affect the water supply. A large portion of residents in this area rely on well water and there are serious concerns that our water supply will be contaminated by the plant. How do you think this proposed CAFO would impact NYS’s greater agricultural community? One of the reasons they have chosen this area is to utilize the Port
of Oswego to ship supplies in and product out. They have already
indicated that they will have to ship corn and other supplies in, so in
reality local farmers will really not benefit greatly from them buying
feed and hay, etc. from them. I truly think on every level possible,
smaller, well-run farms that cater to the local economy are much better
for the animals, the environment and people who live in the vicinity.
Huge facilities such as this have horrendous conditions for animals and
workers, ravage the environment and destroy local infrastructure.
Also, the technology that Bion is proposing to use is not even proven
yet. The residents of Schroeppel and the surrounding areas have no
desire to be guinea pigs for this technology and ruin our property
values and quality of life in the process. Absolutely. As a matter of fact, in Meade, Nebraska a similar project was built and closed within eight months. The company got all of the subsidies, the farmers and those who provided services were not paid and the local government was left to figure out what to do with the closed plant. The amount of traffic that this project would bring would be detrimental to all surrounding areas. Other smaller projects have been declined because our infrastructure could not support it, so how could it possibly support a project of this size? St. Lawrence County was successful at stopping a similar project, have they been helpful to you? What have you learned? They have been very helpful. They have done amazing research and allowed us to use it on our website. The main difference though was they were able to present the facts to the Town Board before it was voted on. Once the Town Board saw how the negatives far out way the positives, they voted to not allow the project. Here in Schroeppel, the Town Board voted to allow Bion to move forward without extensive public input, so we have a different political battle on our hands. How are you fighting this plant? Currently, we are bringing it to the attention of the public. Due
to the way it was handled, people in the area really are not even aware
of the project. We are writing Letters To The Editor, designing
posters, flyers and postcards, starting a petition and we have a
website that has all of the information and research for the project.
Our goal is for people to educate themselves. Once they do that, it is
very easy to see this is not a benefit to our community. We are also
encouraging people to attend the Town Board meetings so we can have our
concerns addressed. In addition, this plant will certainly will not
only affect Schroeppel, so we have contacted surrounding Town Boards so
they are aware of the situation as well. Yes, there is a Facebook Group (Phoenix Talks: Slaughterhouse Project. Get informed, get involved!) Is there any way the citizens of New York State can help and support you in your fight? Yes, please contact your NYS and federal representatives and tell them to not support subsidies for these projects and to invest in family farms rather than factory farm |
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Oswego Valley
News To the Editor: On June 7th, The Syracuse Post Standard ran an article by
Debra Groom about Oswego being cited by Outdoor Life magazine for fishing and hunting
opportunities and that it is now on their list of "America's Top 200 Towns for
Sportsmen".
The city also is also listed in the top 20 towns for best trout and bass
fishing. This is very exciting for
Oswego and surrounding areas. As
indicated in the article, we are home to many lakes and waterways that must be
preserved in order to attract tourists. The Town of
Schroeppel passed a resolution that paves the way for a 72,000
head beef cattle project to come to our area.
There are many known incidents where large facilities of this sort have
polluted waterways and killed large amounts of fish; in addition to polluting
groundwater and wells. In Jeff Kramer’s
article, Proposed ‘Deathanol’ Plant Raises Some Stink, he indicates that
mainstream America has realized that factory farms are cruel and unhealthy and
the trend is to move toward organic products. As a farmer, I know that well-run
smaller farms work in conjunction with the environment. This is the direction we need to look to for
the future of farming, not toward huge facilities that ravage the environment. Please
go to www.phoenixtalks.com to educate yourself and to let it be known that the citizens of
CNY do not want to this project. Do we
want to continue to be known for our outdoor opportunities or to be known as
the home of the largest deathanol plant east of the Mississippi? Karen
Hall Citizens
for Family Farms 3721
VerPlank Road Clay,
NY 13041 |
| Jamie Bort Fayetteville NY I am diametrically opposed to Bion moving to Oswego County.
I feel that their sole concern will be to make money whereas our
concerns lie with the environment, quality of life of our neighbors,
and the future of Oswego County. Thank you. |
Letter From New State Resident Meredith Grosshandler, In Opposition to the Proposed CAFO |
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I recently learned that a large-scale concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) may soon be built in central NY. According to the company’s Dec. 14, 2009 press release, Bion Environmental Technologies, Inc., has received the support of the Oswego County town of Schroeppel, NY, to proceed with plans for a 72,000-cow, 6-barn, beef CAFO with associated ethanol production and beef processing plants. In Bion’s own words, this operation will be the “largest individual cattle livestock facility east of the Mississippi River.”
After a fair amount of research into this planned “Project” (as Bion refers to it), I am writing you today to urge you to stand against it in any and every capacity possible. I realize that you do not represent the district in which this CAFO is planned, but the effects of such an operation are wide-reaching, and have real potential to negatively impact every NY district, and far beyond.
Some of the more pressing concerns about this proposed CAFO are:
The points listed above are just some of the many reasons why Bion’s “Project” is not a good idea for New York (or anywhere, for that matter). What we need in this state is a network of independently operated, small-scale, reliable, USDA inspected slaughterhouses to accommodate the honest, local, responsible farmers of the state without unreasonably long wait times or preferential treatment for Big Ag corporate farms. What New York State does NOT need is Bion’s CAFO. Therefore I respectfully request that, should the opportunity present itself, you vote in the best interest of the good people of New York by voting AGAINST Bion’s CAFO project. Meredith Grosshandler is a native of the Northeast. She spent her adolescence playing in the mountains and farm meadows of southwestern Vermont and Washington County, New York. Although she now lives in Albany, her childhood experiences continue to influence her daily life. As a product of nature herself, she advocates respectful and responsible cohabitation with all of nature’s other creations. |
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May 23, 2010 Letter to the Editor, I am writing to encourage residents to contact their local government officials regarding the Bion Technologies proposal to establish the largest beef cattle factory farm (72,000 head of cattle) east of the Mississippi, an ethanol plant and a slaughter facility in and around the Town of Schroeppel. While I applaud the effort by the Town of Schroeppel Board to look for employment opportunities and growth, I would like to share my findings from the Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. Most of the proposed jobs, I believe, would be in the care of the animals and in the slaughter facility. According to the OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) dated May 2009 – farm workers, farm and ranch animals, earn an estimated mean hourly wage of $11.41 that translate to a mean annual wage of $23, 740. The OES estimates slaughters and meat packers earn a mean hourly wage of $11.42 that translates to a mean annual wage of $23,740. Depending on the size of the family, these wages could be low enough to utilize all the services provided in Oswego County including free and reduced school lunches, food stamps, Medicaid, and housing and heat subsidies. Rumors are circulating that the plan may now include nine factory farms of 8.000 head of cattle each around Oswego County instead of one big 72,000 head cattle farm. That means the taxpayers must also consider wear and tear expenses on the various roadways that will carry the feed, manure and cattle to their various destinations. I’m only guessing but I believe property values may decrease for those living near one of the nine factory farms or along one of the truck routes. Lower property values mean a lower tax base to pay for the additional government expenses incurred for this enterprise. Bion Technologies, Inc. is a development company and their web site suggests they will utilize government subsidies for this project in Oswego County. Government funded environmental impact studies would need to be conducted by the EPA and DEC. In terms of Industrial Geography, once an industry is developed in an area other similar industries tend to locate nearby. If one factory farm of 8.000 head of cattle is developed, other factory farms may have an easier time getting started. In light of the ongoing oil spill disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, do we want to risk our fresh water aquifers and wet lands to unproven technology? If it does fail, who pays? I see no long term or even short term benefit to most citizens of Oswego County. Please ask your lawmakers to help stop this project before it gets started. Thank you,
Noreen Patterson 26 Kay Pat Dr Phoenix, NY 13135 315-695-3399 |
| : Dale Tomlinson Thu, May 27, 2010 Comments : I think that Bion is out to exploit the fact that we are a somewhat economically depressed area, and is betting that we will go after anything that offers so-called "jobs", without asking questions. Those questions, and their are many, need to be asked, as others have already started to do. If you have never experienced being near a large feed lot , you are fortunate. Even with these enclosed and covered "barns" -- which exist primarily to collect manure through the grated floors -- ventilation will still be required. This means that odors will be tranferred outdoors and into the surrounding areas, and they will carry downwind for miles. This is an annoyance and will hurt property values. From an environmental pollution standpoint, the large lagoons of liquid waste will be an accident waiting to happen; any leakage will pollute surrounding surface waters and eventually pose a risk to shallow wells, and they will not be odor-free either. The issue Bion raises of not using manure to fertilize (and thus mitigating any odors) is a straw man; 72,000 cattle (Pall Times, Oct 1, 2009) in a confined area will not go unnoticed by anyone within miles of the facility. And though the average wages of $30,000 per year are held out as a sign well-paying jobs, the number is skewed upward by the comparatively few professional staff (vets, managers). As Bion itself says, most positions will be in the slaughtering and meat packing operation, and these are typically low-pay jobs. It is a well-known fact that other meat producers utilize much "disposable" labor, such as illegal immigrants, for such work; if Bion is to compete, whom will they hire? I find it hard to believe that Oswego County -- and Schroeppel -- cannot do better than this for economic development. "Depressed" or not, we have relatively clean air and water and should not endanger those resources for what could be a risky and temporary "fix" |
| michael mcdermot Sat, Jun 12, 2010 Enter comments here!i'm all for it. it's about time we had some industry here in phoenix. i'm sure the powers to be will make sure everything is done appropriately and the health department will moniter it. |
| Leonard Spano Tue, Apr 27, 2010 Comments : I and my family oppose the Bion project being to close to residents in the Town of Schroeppel |
| Comments :Wed, Mar 17, 2010 7:55 pm Bion, why now and why Schroeppel; that is the big question?
St Lawrence County said No, after researching the issue. After reading
the Phoenix Register and taking a look at the web site ?www. PhoenixTalks.com.
both sources were very informative; but why would the Schroeppel town
board give it?s approval without extensive public input. Next big
question where in the town of Schroeppel would you put 72,000 beef cows
and the support buildings? Phoenix Register and Phoenix Talks keep providing us with unbiased reporting and the truth will come out. Thanks Jim McMahon |
| Kathy: Squires,Tue, Mar 16, 2010 5:51 pm Comments : I grew up in Phoenix, my son graduated from JCB, and my father still lives in the village. I have been a vocal opponent of CAFOs (concentrated animal feeding operations) for years, long before there was one proposed for our backyard. Operations such as the one proposed by Bion are best described as concentration camps for cows. The political clout behind these companies (and the beef industry as a whole) is huge, as evidenced by food disparagement laws (also known as veggie libel laws) in approx 13 states, which make it illegal to speak ill of beef or the beef industry. The daily run off from these operations can approximate the sewage generated by a small city. The way these animals are housed and fed is the reason thate.coli is so pervasive in our food stream. The animals have no quality of life prior to their slaughter. It is a soulless industry that is ruining our environment, endagering the health of all beings, fueling the disconnect between people and their food sources, contributing in a huge way to the multitude of chronic diseases afflicting our society. I would strongly urge all people involved in this decision, whether proponent or opponent, to watch the movie "Food, Inc." This film was nominated for an Academy Award this year for best documentary. As a clinical dietitian by profession and a concerned citizen of Planet Earth, I believe anyone who eats food should watch this film, but more specifically it provides an accurate portrayal of CAFOs and the political corruption behind the beef industry. |
| : Natalianne Caputo Fri, Mar 12, 2010 8:29 am Comments : I think that this project is ALL WRONG and that there are many people in this world that will do anything for money! They will destroy and poison the earth, kill animal life, pollute the atmosphere, lie, cheat, and steal - just to make that almighty dollar and have their interests met. THIS DISGUSTS ME! I saw the photos and I got sad and then sick. Money does NOT make the world go round! It is clean air and all our beautiful species of flora and animal life that truly make the world go round! It is the things that man's money cannot buy, that are precious and relevant. There are many people that just do not care about our planet or the long-term, serious effects that it will have on ALL of us. I see this pattern happening all around me. Do we really need this? I SAY NO! These people that are for this project are not promoting it for NEED, but for GREED! This is disgusting! |
| : Natalianne Caputo Fri, Mar 12, 2010 5:19 pm Comments : This is NOT a good idea. This project is a project where the risks and downs outweigh the benefits significantly. |
| New Post March 12 2010 Dear Ms. Peters,
Bion welcomes the
opportunity to answer your questions:
§ I would like to know if Bion has picked exact
placement or an idea of where the placement will be.
No, not yet.
§ I
also would like to know if the slaughter house will be with cattle
housing and ethanol plant or if they will be separated.
Project design allows for a great deal of
flexibility in the location of project activities. An evaluation of
each site in an interactive process with regional planners will help to
determine the specific project configuration which may combine some
project activities on contiguous sites.
§ There
is also concern of the number of jobs being offered I have heard from
300 to 900 jobs are being offered if you have a closer estimate it would
be appreciated.
The
project will result in close to 200 direct jobs for the cattle
finishing, ethanol, waste treatment and renewable energy activities.
The addition of a beef processing facility will add another 400 direct
jobs, resulting in close to 600 direct jobs, all with benefits including
health insurance. In addition, economic models typically show the
creation of several indirect jobs in support of project activities
within the regional economy although there has not yet been a formal
economic impact assessment conducted for the project in Oswego County.
§ If any of your representatives will be visiting
Schroeppel for one of the town meeting please have the date sent.
A Bion representative was in
Oswego County earlier this week at the invitation of the Town of
Hannibal. We took that opportunity to also speak to local public
officials as well as a number of representatives of the regional press.
We do not currently have another date scheduled.
Thank you
for your interest in Bion's project. I would suggest that you could
avail yourself of additional information regarding the project on our
project website: www.bionoswegoproject.com/.
You can also use that website to ask additional questions about the
project so that everyone can see both the questions and Bion's response
in a transparent manner.
Respectfully,
Jeff Kapell, VP Project
Development / Renewables
Bion Environmental Technologies, Inc.
508-746-0885
|
| Alyssa Russ Wed, Mar 10, 2010 7:10 pm Email : Comments : This is a horrible idea. If this proposed project is to be placed in Industrial Park as I've heard, it simply can not be allowed. I work at the daycare in that "park" and we take the children for walks around that loop! Not only would this be an innappropriate environment for those children, but the health of our entire community will be put at risk! |
| Elizabeth Mclemore---Comments : It seems the Bion company wants to sneak in the backdoor of the town of Schroeppel with their invasive and persuasive intentions. We need to open our eyes, turn the light on and examine this life-changing decision fully before any agreements are made. Residents of the town of Schroeppel, Oswego county and surrounding counties will all be effected- financially, physically and,just as importantly, emotionally! |
| Sue Peter --Link to Face Book |
| Richard Chapman ---Comments : What kind or horrible people would allow this on our community? This is just sick. We have children in this county. Thats why we care so much |
| Pauline Hall ----Comments : I am extremely concerned about: traffic; odor; the potential of health problems for animals and people and water problems. This area has several aquifers and how is possible to place this facility anywhere in this area to ensure there is no contamination? I do not see how that could be. We also have rivers right close by that could be contaminated. I understand that local jobs may be created, but they will be dangerous and low-paying. It does not seem like a logical pay off to me AT ALL for Schroeppel and surrounding areas. So many animals in one place-has it ever been done before and can you not see what a disaster this could be? |
| Mary Hall-Fisk--Comments : I am totally opposed to the Bion proposal for many reasons!!!!! First of all what it will do to our area; it will effect not only the town of Schroeppel but also several surrounding towns will also suffer including ones in Onondaga County. I do not want to walk out of my house and have to cover my face because of the smell of what Bion will be creating. I do not want it so that my child does not want to be outside due to the smell. Let alone what it will do the the real estate value of our homes. What about how it will affect our children's and our own health. What about the long term effective on our enviroment. I live in Onondaga County; my daughter attends school in Phoenix. |
| Karen Hall---Comments : I believe this project will have a long-term devastating impact on the environment, our infrastructure, our taxes, our property values and our social systems. Having that many animals in a small area can lead to nothing but trouble for the Town of Schroeppel and the citizens and businesses of all surrounding areas. There are far too many unanswered questions to allow this project to proceed. |
| Katy Peters---Comments : I believe the Bion project will lower the appeal of Schroeppel, NY. The project offers virtually nothing to the community. The meetings should be announced on the Schroeppel/Phoenix Website calendars along with contact information. I will definitely spread the word myself. If you do not have the time to send in a request to have it posted on the Calenders I will send one in to lessen the work. |
| S Garofalo---Comments : Enter comments here!"In the best interest." Who's? We need to be responsible to all generations. The decisions made today for lets say, "economics reasons," could be the ruin of this small community, and it's residents . Good intentions must be reviewed by responsible people. The town and the community. Lets hope. |
