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Minutes for SB405 - Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources
Short Title
Clarifying animal conversion units for poultry facilities with dry manure systems.
Minutes Content for Tue, Feb 13, 2018
Chairperson Kerschen recognized Tucker Stewart of the Kansas Livestock Association who introduced members of the Young Stockman's Academy. Chairperson Kerschen welcomed them to the committee meeting.
Chairperson Kerschen reopened the hearing on SB405.
Secretary Jackie McClaskey and Dr. Peter Tomlinson addressed questions from the committee based on testimony from Feb. 12.
Kathy Martin testified in opposition to the bill. She expressed three areas of concern about the proposed change to animal unit calculations; comparison of manure/nitrogen phosphorus across all species, poultry litter disposal/reuse and the industry's preference for manure brokers, and mortality disposal/composting. She said that the contract grower has no control over anything dealing with the poultry except their litter and death.(Attachment 1)
Craig Volland testified in opposition to the bill. He believes this bill puts rural Kansas at risk. To him, the central issue is what are the health impacts and quality of life effects of living only 1/4 mile from 333,000 chickens or 100 feet from 99,999 chickens? He said that neither the Kansas Department of Health and Environment or Kansas State University knows.(Attachment 2)
Donn Teske testified in opposition to the bill. He stated that Kansas Farmers Union policy is opposed to industrial factory farming. He believes that Kansas is bribing industrial agriculture to come into the state in the name of economic development. However, he believes that it is not fostering economic activity. Instead it is killing rural communities in Kansas. (Attachment 3)
Senator Francisco shared a memo with the committee that she received via e-mail from Josh Roe with the Department of Agriculture. The memo contains a link to an article about separation distances, buffers, etc. from the University of Georgia.(Attachment 4)
Written testimony in opposition of the bill was submitted by:
Lori Lawrence-Wichita, KS(Attachment 5)
Sue Lamberson- Clearwater, KS(Attachment 6)
Cecilia Pruitt- Tonganoxie, KS(Attachment 7)
Dawn Buehler- Friends of the Kaw(Attachment 8)
Mary Fund- Kansas Rural Center(Attachment 9)
Charles Herd- Coldwater, KS(Attachment 10)
After a question and answer period following the testimony, Chairperson Kerschen closed the hearing on SB405.
