Cow 'concentration camp'

Cow ‘concentration camp’ fears for herd of 8,000 kept indoors

Peter Willes of Beckland Farm plans to invite visitors daily to monitor his cows

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/uk/article2750015.ece

There was an excellent response to this article from Mark Fielden on October 2, 2010 3:06 PM and I am able to reproduce it here following his permission:

"This farming ideology originated in the USA, - known as CAFOs Combined Animal Feeding Operations. They are a warning beacon of damage to human and environmental health. A new Dismantlement Movement has risen up to to abolish them and lawsuits in progress. Due to officers' liability at NKDC planning department, this responsibility should be made the subject of public enquiry.

The cost of helping the taxpayer avoid land reclamation cleaning costs should require an indemnity fund of £1.5 billion. The predicted daily waste effluent is equal to a city of 150,000 - this location sits on an aquifer used for water supplies - it stands on a gradient descending toward three settlements of 5,500 people about a mile away, a forseeable hazard due to unusual spells of rainwater flooding that affect the county. Similar operations have badly affected humans, a health hazard and an over-powering nuisance from flies and stench.

In FAWC's letter of 4th August to DEFRA published at fawc.org.uk, Professor Wathes of the Farm and Animal Welfare Council stated such animals experience 'great stress' - clause 16: "This advice relies upon certain provisions being met since the dairy cow housed all the year and/or kept in very large dairy herds is under great stress. We particularly emphasise the crucial importance of skilled stockmanship to welfare." In my opinion, that is a disclaimer of responsibility, not a message of support. Planning decision should not proceed without reference to animal welfare, planning law presently avoiding that responsibility.

In my opinion, these CAFOs are not necessary to our national feeding requirements. We need a public enquiry to ensure investment and policy support for humane farming, demonstrating it to be respectable and affordable. The communities affected have set up their own website at caffo.co.uk, a defensive response to this wall of money and ideology. Is this less a project for economic milk production - but a reckless experiment in animal warehousing and environmental hazard?"

Perhaps you might like to add your comments if you are a subscriber to The Times?

Super dairy plan begins to turn sour as key partner pulls out

The Lincolnshire Echo continues its coverage of the Nocton Dairies saga.

http://www.thisislincolnshire.co.uk/news/Super-dairy-plan-begins-turn-sour-key-partner-pulls/article-2715639-detail/article.html

Localism vs globalism: two world views collide

By Michael McCarthy, Environment Editor, in Lyon

http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/green-living/localism-vs-globalism-two-world-views-collide-2089098.html

Could cloud computing revolutionise food supply?

As British Food Fortnight draws to a close, the power of cloud computing is being harnessed to make local food more available to local markets

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/8037763/Could-cloud-computing-revolutionise-food-supply.html

Planning Application - Change of use of redundant agricultural buildings to commercial/industrial warehouse uses

"The buildings comprise a substantial range of derelict grain stores, grain driers and implement stores. They are located within a large farmyard complex sited close to the railway. Their re-use for commercial/industrial uses would not have any negative impact upon the countryside or their landscape setting. They will provide an opportunity for new employment uses which will be of benefit to local communities and the district’s wider economy."

The public consultation expiry date is stated as the 8th October 2010.

Source: Document 10/1144/FUL_Planning_Report-258806 published on the NKDC Planning Portal.