(Orangeburg) April 18, 2006 - The poultry demand is
higher in South Carolina, and that means more chicken
farms are popping up. The question of how to regulate
them is ruffling some feathers.
Leon Fulmer sees chickens in his future, up to 29,000
in a barn on his farm in Newberry County.
Fulmer is converting the barn to broiler production,
cashing in on a growing demand for chicken. He says, "We
are hoping to be in operation within the next month."
Fulmer and other poultry farmers say they already
have to follow tough rules when locating their
operations. State law says barns have to be 200 feet
from someone else's property, 1,000 feet from a home.
Counties have expanded those buffer zones even more.
Columbia attorney Bob Guild says, "The American
Association of Agricultural Engineers that advise the
factory farm industry, say that factory farms ought to
be set back at least one mile from a public area such as
downtowns and housing developments and a minimum of a
quarter mile from the nearest residence."
The guild represents homeowners worried about plans
for a huge chicken farm in Oconee County. People are
concerned about odor, waste, flies and a bill approved
by the state Senate.
Guild says it could erode local control over poultry
farming. That legislation would give DHEC sole
responsibility for regulating poultry farms. Critics
suggest that counties will be losing their ability to
set their own rules.
Fulmer disagrees, "It in no way shape or form does
that. It's totally intended to encourage the counties to
do appropriate zoning within the counties. There is no
intention to prevent counties from doing anything."
Guild says, "Until DHEC starts doing its job, I
really think it's completely inappropriate for the
legislature to tell the counties that they can't fill in
and offer the protection demanded by local citizens."
Fulmer worked at DHEC as a regulator himself.
If the House approves the bill, that agency that
might have to balance the needs of neighborhoods -
without burning one of the state's most important
industries.
Reported by Jack
Kuenzie
Posted 7:11pm by Chantelle
Janelle
