Public discussion on economics of mega-dairies March 28

Staff Report

HOMES is hosting a free public discussion on .When a Mega-Dairy Comes In,. at 6:30 p.m., Monday, March 28, at Clock Tower Resort, 7801 E. State St., Rockford.

The following speakers will share their expertise on topics related to the economic effects of mega-dairies.

Dan Imhoff, author of The CAFO Reader, is a researcher and independent publisher who concentrates on farming, the environment and design. He is the author of numerous writings including CAFO: The Tragedy of Industrial Animal Factories; Food Fight: The Citizen’s Guide to a Food and Farm Bill; and Paper or Plastic.

Dr. John Ikerd, professor emeritus of Agricultural Economics, is a specialist in sustainable agriculture. He was raised on a small dairy farm in southwest Missouri and has published books including Sustainable Capitalism: A Matter of Common Sense, and Crisis and Opportunity: Sustainability in American Agriculture.

Kendall Thu, associate professor of anthropology at NIU, will speak about the permitting process as part of a broader theme of our industrialized food system, democracy, and social justice. He has studied the impact of industrial agriculture on communities. He is the co-founder of the Illinois Citizens for Clean Air and Water (ICCAW), a statewide coalition of family farmers and community groups advocating for sound policies and practices that protect the environment.

Pete Hardin, editor of The Milkweed, brings decades of inside knowledge of the dairy industry to the table. His family still owns a dairy farm, and his extensive contacts and travels around the nation make him one of the most knowledgeable reporters covering the dairy industry.

For more information about the program, call (815) 745-9013. For more information about HOMES and to help support the cause, visit: www.StopTheMegaDairy.org.

HOMES (Helping Others Maintain Environmental Standards) is a 501(c) (3) taxexempt, pro-agriculture group of farmers and citizens dedicated to protecting family farms, rural communities, human health, and the environment by promoting sustainable agriculture and conserving our natural resources.

From the March 23-29 issue