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Vermont's Large Farm Operations
From Ames Flagg
One of the most troubling things about Vermont's Large Farm Operation (LFO) regulations is the complete absence of standards for the care of the animals at the heart of the operations; animals are simply reduced to the status of 'production units'. LFO permitting decisions in Vermont rest entirely with the state Department of Agriculture.
Hens at the Vermont Egg Farm (VEF) in Highgate, Vermont's most notorious factory farm, have a miserable existence by any standard. Hens are forced to spend their entire lives in a cage about the size of a computer monitor with four or five other hens. They have no freedom of movement and cannot rest or stretch comfortably, causing them to scuffle constantly with their cage mates for space.
Thus, chicks who will live in these conditions undergo 'de-beaking' - a painful and damaging procedure in which much of their beaks are clipped off - to prevent them from injuring their cage mates. Currently VEF houses more than 100,000 hens, cage upon cage, row upon row, in a dark, rank, windowless building.
VEF's original LFO permit was granted in 1996 despite opposition from neighbors, environmentalists and animal advocates. In its most recent LFO permit application, VEF sought approval to more than double its number of laying hens to 235,000.
That application was denied in October 2002 because the Department of Agriculture found that the operation lacked a sufficient manure management plan. The owners of VEF have since filed an appeal with the state environmental court.
Another LFO permit application has recently been submitted to the Vermont Ag Department. In this case, the Hinsdale family of Charlotte has applied with plans for a dairy operation that would eventually house as many as 2,500 cows, and would require a 1.7 acre manure pit as part of its manure management plan.
The application will not be ruled complete and enter the 45-day ruling period without a dam permit for the giant manure pit, which is currently the subject of a lawsuit brought by neighbors of the proposed farm.
Most cows on large scale dairy farms live a bleak existence. They are continuously confined in tie-stall barns, treated with antibiotics to counteract the effects of an unnatural diet and intensive confinement, as well as with hormones to increase their milk production.
In order for cows to produce milk they must give birth. Calves are taken away from their mothers immediately after they are born, causing both mother and calf great distress. Female calves are raised to replace worn-out milkers, while most male calves are destined to become veal, and spend their remaining lives in an appalling state of discomfort.
The Working Group for Sustainable Agriculture, a coalition of Vermont environmental and animal advocacy groups including GMAD, continues to be very active around LFO issues in Vermont.
During the next legislative session, we expect a bill to be introduced which would strengthen Vermont's LFO permitting process. It is important for animal advocates to contact state lawmakers to encourage support of this legislation, and to speak out for animals and the environment through letters to the editor and other venues.
For more information, email arflagg@sover.net or call GMAD at 878-2230.
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