By: Nathan Bloechl — [email protected]
Dakota City, Iowa — Call J.D. Myers a concerned citizen.
He wasn’t outrageously mad, but he was tactfully prepared as he entered the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors room Monday morning.
Myers, a long-time member of the livestock industry, wanted to get his point across that the proposed hog site near Thor isn’t as bad as what many believe it is.
“There’s a site near Spring Valley Golf Course, about 3/4 of a mile south of the golf course. People still play there, people still pay to go there.”
Myers said that was being be quoted in the Humboldt paper last week was “fear-mongering” and he wants people to understand both sides of the coin.
“I don’t understand why people are saying it’ll ruin businesses. The importance of livestock in our county — you know, it has so much revenue for our county. Where would we be without it?” Myers said.
“Ask the co-op’s, ask anyone involved with hog sites, it’s a slap in the face for the industry.”
Myers believes that without hog sites like the one proposed in Thor, grain prices would drop — both corn and beans — and land prices would drop as well. Myers exclaimed that Iowa Select creates jobs, demand for corn and soybeans, create fertilizer and impact farmer’s bottom lines.
While no official action was taken, the supervisors were happy to hear Myers’ information.
“This is all very well done, J.D.” Supervisor Erik Underberg said.
“We aren’t [anti-livestock], but as the supervisors we want to make sure we are protecting the people of this county” he said.