Why We Vote » Mega Farm or Family Farm?

Mega Farm or Family Farm?

April 3rd, 2008 at 08:32am Jon Murray

I’ve been following the proposed development of the mega dairy farm in Jo Davies County for a while…mostly through the weekly article state rep Jim Sacia writes for some of the rural weekly papers. I was really glad to see the RRSTAR present a balanced perspective on the issue in this past Sunday’s paper. That’s because representative Sacia seems to have taken on the role of cheerleader and “lobbyist” for the Bos family (owners of the proposed farm). Is the future of farming in this country to become “mega farms”? We’ve seen what mega super stores have done to the business economy of small communities (it’s not good). What will our beautiful northern Illinois landscape turn into with the advent of mega farms…there are many unanswered questions…water quality, noise, smell, traffic, etc. This is not to mention the aesthetic concern …there is beauty in a small farm across the landscape….I don’t think we’re going to see that in a mega farm. I do believe rep. Sacia is sincere in his belief of the value, merit and safety of the proposed operation (although he really hasn’t addressed the concerns about groundwater pollution). However… I don’t believe he is representing the concerns of his constituents in this matter. We need legislators who are less concerned about promoting out of state businesses and more concerned about the quality of life in northern Illinois!