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Index:
Public Meeting - Russell April
24
Proposed Hog Barn at Elkhorn
Pork
Production will increase - Saskatchewan Government
Manitoba Sow Herd Building - US slows down
due to Restrictions
Public Registry - April 16,
2002
Animal
and human E. coli distinguishable
National Sea Grant College Program Monday,
April 29, 2002 WASHINGTON DC
Economic Bonus or Local Disaster?
A public forum sponsored by Rural Bootstrap
Featuring Dr. Bill Weida and Lisa Bechthold of the GRACE Factory Farm
Project
Wednesday, April 24, 2002 7:30 pm at the Russell Community Hall
Dr Bill Weida, Professor of Economics at the Colorado College, currently
serves as an economic consultant to the Grace Foundation Factory FarmProject
where he works with communities that are battling large scaleagricultural
projects. He acts as an expert witness in permit hearings
and provides analysis of economic impacts.
A question period will follow...
Debate
rages over plan for large hog operation
Pressure
mounts on NDP to take control
By Leah Janzen
Winnipeg Free Press
April 12, 2002
The proposed conversion of a community pasture to a large hog operation
has residents of a southwestern Manitoba municipality wrangling over what
should happen to the land.
More than 200 people crammed into the Elks hall in Elkhorn Wednesday night
to debate the sale of five sections of land
located opposite the 'Welcome to Manitoba' tourist booth at the Manitoba/Saskatchewan
border
Gent Farms wants the land to establish a
large hog operation in the area located in the RM of Wallace.
But some residents say they weren't given enough information on the proposal
and did not have enough say in the negotiations.
"We'd like a referendum on the issue," said area farmer Brent
Nolan. "There is no democracy in municipal politics."
The fight between those wanting to establish intensive livestock operations
and those concerned about the environmental impact of the barns has resulted
in raucous near-brawls at rural municipality council meetings in some
parts of the province in recent years.
A variety of people at the centre of the disputes
say it's time for the province to take the responsibility for approving
livestock proposals out of the hands of rural governments.
Weldon Newton, president of the Keystone Agriculture Producers, said the
province needs to find a way to make the process run more smoothly.
"We need to find a way to get past the personal abuse that takes
place at local meetings," he said. "I still support the rural
municipalities having a say in the decision, but the province has to take
some responsibility too."
Stuart Briese, president of the Association of Manitoba Municipalities,
said he supports a two-hearing process in which the rural municipality
would be responsible for approving the land use for new livestock operations.
The province would be responsible for handling environmental and enforcement
approvals.
To date, Briese said, many municipalities
struggling to find a way to balance their economic needs with residents'
concerns have rewritten municipal bylaws to shoehorn
projects into their area -- or to keep them out.
As a result, Briese said, there is little consistency
in the bylaws around the province and livestock operations are left to
fulfill certain requirements in one area which aren't necessary in others.
In January, 2001 an independent livestock stewardship
panel recommended the province should have veto power over the establishment
of new livestock operations in the province.
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to top
Animal
and human E. coli distinguishable
DNA Technology Identifying E. Coli Sources; Notes Separate Human, Animal
Sources >From National Sea Grant College Program Monday, April 29,
2002 WASHINGTON DC -
DNA TECHNOLOGY IDENTIFYING E. COLI SOURCES; NOTES
SEPARATE HUMAN, ANIMAL SOURCES
Bacterial contamination in water is a major environmental problem that
is indicated by high levels of E. coli counts. In a recent study, Illinois-Indiana
Sea Grant researchers Charles Tseng and W.T. Evert Ting traced the sources
of fecal pollution in Lake Michigan in an effort to halt the dangers of
future E. coli contamination. Tseng and Ting based their research on the
hypothesis that E. coli strains from humans are distinguishable from those
of animals. By narrowing down the methods used to form DNA profiles with
the random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and the automated ribotyping
techniques, they were able to create DNA fingerprints for human and animal
sources. They then established a computer-based E. coli DNA profile database,
which allowed them to identify similarities among the host species. Using
the database, a model can be formed to trace the source of E. coli. Ultimately,
the new technology will be transferred to environmental agencies and organizations
in order to improve water quality worldwide.
CONTACT: Charles Tseng, Professor of Biology, Purdue University, Illinois-Indiana
Sea Grant Researcher, (O) 219-989-2403, (F) 219-989-2130, Email: tseng@calumet.purdue.edu
W.T.Evert Ting, Professor of Biology, Purdue University, Illinois-Indiana
Sea Grant Researcher, (O) 219-989-2490, (F) 219-989-2130, Email: ting@calumet.purdue.edu
For more information, contact: Ben Sherman National Media Relations Director
National Sea Grant College Program 202-662-7095 sherman@nasw.org Web site:
http://www.seagrantnews.org
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