Oaklane Colony near Alexandria, South Dakota held an open house Friday for their newly built 10,000 head hog finishing barn. It’s just one of many new large scale livestock facilities planned or newly operating and the trend towards livestock expansion is one that is becoming highly controversial in the state. However, South Dakota Secretary of Agriculture Lucas Lentsch believes communities can achieve harmony when it comes to livestock zoning.
Lentsch says regardless of the size, livestock production is one of the best ways available to keep rural communities viable throughout the state.
He admits these livestock operations may not buy every input locally, but he says most are trying to keep their business local.
Yet there is a groundswell of opponents to Confined Animal Feeding Operations being located in South Dakota. They cite environmental concerns, odor, and loss in property values and believe the dollars generated by these operations does not stay in the state.