Edmunds County South Dakota Commissioners are holding a hearing Monday to hear resident’s views on a 5,000-hen turkey barn near Ipswich. Permits for three of those barns have already been approved and some residents have expressed opposition to this latest one and want the permit revoked. Commissioner Tim Thomas says Farm Holdings S.D. 12 is a limited liability company owned by Hendrix Genetics.

A signed petition forced the public hearing. He says commissioners want to hear from residents both for and against the project and they hope to reach a compromise.

Thomas thinks it’s important for commissioners to consider any possible economic development opportunities, including turkey production.

61 residents of Edmunds County signed the petition calling for county commissioners to retract the building permit for Farm Holdings.