SB 103 VOTE: NO – Died in Committee
Status (overview) of bill: https://olis.leg.state.or.us/liz/2019R1/Measures/Overview/SB103
Reclassifies farming activity into an industrial facility to excessively regulate water and air quality similar to a factory. Conduct a study on milk prices, and establish Task Force on Dairy Animal Welfare. (Extended version of SB 104)
Fiscal Responsibility
Requires a surety bond providing for reimbursing the department or other entities for any environmental, health or animal welfare costs arising from operations of the industrial dairy, including costs due to manure spills, improper disposal of animals, excessive applications of manure that threaten water quality or public health, the cleaning of abandoned facilities and the relocation of animals due to facility closure or permit suspension or revocation.
Limited Government
Environmentally based on recommendations contained in the final report of the Task Force on Dairy Air Quality 2007. This is a blatant attack on modern agriculture that would be precedent setting. It puts operations that do not fit in a traditional view of farming at political risk. Establishes emission reduction program to regulate the release of industrial dairy emissions into the air. Conduct a study to determine the effect of industrial dairies on the economic viability of small and medium sized dairies, including the effect industrial dairies have on milk prices. Establish task force to review of animal welfare practices at industrial dairies.
Local Control
Allows local governments to adopt human health and safety ordinances restricting or prohibiting air and water emissions by dairies classified as industrial facilities. The ordinances may include restricting or prohibiting the emission of hydrogen sulfide, methane or haze into the air or emissions of nitrates into water. Prohibits Department of Environmental Quality and Water Resources Department from issuing permits for new or expanded industrial dairy contrary to local ordinances.
Free Markets
Every regulation added cost, which rolls down to consumers.
SB 104 – Relating to industrial dairies.
SB 104 VOTE: NO – Died in Committee
Status (overview) of bill: https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2019R1/Measures/Overview/SB104This bill labels certain farm activities as an industry in order to impose excessive air and water restrictions. (Short version of SB 103)
Limited Government
Environmentally driven basing ordinances on recommendations contained in the final report of the Task Force on Dairy Air Quality 2007. This is a blatant attack on modern agriculture that would be precedent setting. It puts operations that do not fit in a traditional view of farming at political risk.
Local Control
Farm activities have been curtailed based on over zealous regulation for decades. This further reduces a needed economic driver in rural Oregon. Allows local governments to adopt human health and safety ordinances restricting or prohibiting air and water emissions by dairies classified as industrial facilities. The ordinances may include restricting or prohibiting the emission of hydrogen sulfide, methane or haze into the air or emissions of nitrates into water. Prohibits Department of Environmental Quality and Water Resources Department from issuing permits for new or expanded industrial dairy contrary to local ordinances.
Free Markets
Every regulation has a cost that rolls down to the consumer.
When laws such as these drive commercial dairies out of business, where will our dairy products come from ? Alos, there is no fiscal/revenue impact statements . Looks like governmental control by ” fiat.”
No, no, no to this bill.. Any control given to government has the ability to morph into a monster I speak from experience. Back in 1996 (I think)..we suffered flooding on our land. The flood caused great soil loss and left the whole yard full of trees, limbs debris of all kinds. We were devastated! Before we knew it we were paid a visit by some government entity….I don’t remember what agency. We were told we could not let any of the logs or timber leave the property. We could not cut the wood into logs and sell them…(to help pay for our damages). The only thing we could do with them was cut it all into firewood and burn it, or if we had it sawed (on the property) into lumber, each board had to have some sort of stamp on it from a legitimate sawyer. (I still don’t know what the heck that meant!)…..and the lumber had to be used on the property. There’s more hardships caused by that agency, but it shows an example of what the farmers would have to deal with if this bill passed. It’s hard enough trying to make a living by farming, without having yet another govt. agency checking on how many times your cow farts!!!!! This bill is the foot in the door to cap and trade!
I am a small timber land owner. I have aggressively not availed myself to the “help” provided by the local bureaucracies as I know they just want to control my stewardship of my property. Most of these people do NOT have extensive credentialing in silvaculture but act as if they are all knowing. I worked 52 years to buy this property and am reticent to have government invade my life. When I failed, there was nobody that said, “ok Don, here is money for your bad decisions.” I have made good decisions about my land and have been moderately successful. Why would I want these folks to come in and “consult” me ? I guess they did not get the STUPID tatoo completely off my forehead… LMAO