EDITORIAL: Economic Development? For Whom?
During the January 24, 2002 "State of the Industry" presentation at Clovis Community College, the Dairy Producers of New Mexico applauded Curry County dairies for their contribution to the local economy. Yes, they have had an impact in recent years.
However, we citizens are very concerned that the net economic impact of the dairy industry in Eastern New Mexico and West Texas will ultimately be negative, due to the restriction of further economic development in our area because of the water pollution and depletion effects of the CAFO (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations) industry, coupled with quality of life issues brought by CAFO's (flies, mosquitoes, rodents, odor, increased nitrate levels in the water, and a wide range of related health risks).
What other industries will EVER be interested in moving into a region that has let its industry emissions run wild? Whether it is smoke from a power plant or cow manure, industry emissions are industry emissions. And some smell worse than others.
Several dairy owners who live on the dairy property claim that they don't mind the smell. But they are making huge profits for this sacrifice; some are said to be raking in well over $100,000 per month.
The rest of us have to live with the byproducts of their profit structure. And when anyone complains, as Al Jacobs did when he expressed his concerns about the ruined property value he will suffer if a dairy is placed next to his property, he is told that if he doesn't like what's built next to him, he can move. This is actually what Pat Woods, member of the Curry County Farm Bureau (and a member of the Board of Farmers' Electric Cooperative), told Mr. Jacobs during the public meeting.
We believe in free enterprise, but not at the cost of an entire community. As long as you are pursuing the American Dream and not trampling on the rights of other Americans, more power to you. But when your personal pursuits hurt the American Dream your neighbors are pursuing, you must be stopped.
And as far as Mr. Woods' comments are concerned: does he really think it is fair for 42,000 people (many of us natives with pioneer ancestors) to have to move so that 2 dozen dairymen can move into our area, take over our water supply, and pollute our fresh, clean air?
The Federal government, in its efforts to help the family farmer, has inadvertently added to our pollution problems in New Mexico by funding large-scale CAFO's through farm subsidy programs intended to help the family farmer.
Here are a few figures to consider.
These are Farm Subsidy totals for 1995-2002 awarded to local dairy owners and prospective dairy owners, compiled from USDA databases.
KEEP IN MIND THAT THIS IS ONLY THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG--THIS DOES NOT NECESSARILY INCLUDE PAYMENTS MADE THROUGH THEIR COOPERATIVES, THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS, AND OTHER ASSOCIATED BUSINESSES.
Click on the underlined links to see detailed information on these individual subsidies:
Rajen Dairy
Randy Vander Dussen
938 Curry Rd O
Clovis, NM 88101
791-3635
$923,498
Click Here for Farm Subsidy Information compiled from USDA Data
Palla Dairy
Wayne Palla
902 Colonial Parkway
Clovis, NM 88101
762-3391
$1,036,305
Click Here for Farm Subsidy Information compiled from USDA Data
AND $485,277
Click Here for Farm Subsidy Information compiled from USDA Data
Highland Dairy
Art Schaap
650 Curry Rd O
Clovis, NM 88101
683-5155
$625,571
Click Here for Farm Subsidy Information compiled from USDA Data
AND $80,638
Click Here for Farm Subsidy Information compiled from USDA Data
Southern Draw Dairy
Ronald Schaap
1069 Curry Rd 21
Clovis, NM 88101
985-2049
$531,738
Click Here for Farm Subsidy Information compiled from USDA Data
AND $121,270
Click Here for Farm Subsidy Information compiled from USDA Data
Day Star Dairy
"Tony" Teunis Teune
1369 Curry Rd 7
Clovis, NM 88101
683-5141
$414,124
Click Here for Farm Subsidy Information compiled from USDA Data
DoRene Dairy
Doug Handley
1461 Curry Rd 6
Clovis, NM 88101
683-5398
$431,544
Click Here for Farm Subsidy Information compiled from USDA Data
Heritage Dairy
Eric Daale
650 Curry Rd F
Clovis, NM 88101
683-9601
$338,818
Click Here for Farm Subsidy Information compiled from USDA Data
North Point Dairy
Eddie Schaap
2149 Curry Rd H
Clovis, NM 88101
$207,348
Click Here for Farm Subsidy Information compiled from USDA Data
Vander Dussen Dairy
George Vander Dussen
1850 Curry Rd D
Texico, NM 88135
$148,143
Click Here for Farm Subsidy Information compiled from USDA Data
SAS Dairy
Albin Smith
506 State Rd 467,
Clovis, NM 88101
683-5341
$250,391
Click Here for Farm Subsidy Information compiled from USDA Data
Mid Friesen Dairy
Andle Van Der Ploeg
507 Curry Rd 8
Clovis, NM 88101
$108,646
Click Here for Farm Subsidy Information compiled from USDA Data
A and T Dairy --and--
Powerline Dairy
Andy and Ted Boersma
1154 Curry Rd 7
Clovis, NM 88101
and1287 Curry Rd 4
Clovis, NM 88101
683-5396
$338,847
Click Here for Farm Subsidy Information compiled from USDA Data
South Slope Dairy
Don Oppliger
499 Curry Rd 14
Farwell, TX 79325
389-1006
$3,289,110.86
Click Here for Farm Subsidy Information compiled from USDA Data
and
$62,405.79
Click Here for Farm Subsidy Information compiled from USDA Data
Rio Leche' Dairy
John Loper
697 Curry Rd 8
Clovis, NM 88101
El Dorado Dairy
Ware and Hanson
1331 Curry Rd 6
Clovis, NM 88101
Desperado Dairy
Steve Hanson
1244 Curry Rd D
Texico, NM 88135
389-5770
----AND THOSE WHO HAVE RECENTLY APPLIED FOR PERMITS-----
Running M Land & Cattle
Vincent DeMaio
Clovis, NM 88101
$339,204
1. Click Here for Farm Subsidy Information compiled from USDA Data
AND $338,330
Click Here for Farm Subsidy Information compiled from USDA DataBarnes Farms
Paul Dee Barnes
Texico, NM 88135
$415,948
Click Here for Farm Subsidy Information compiled from USDA Data
AND $180,747
Click Here for Farm Subsidy Information compiled from USDA Data
AND $237,023
Click Here for Farm Subsidy Information compiled from USDA Data
Perform a Search of USDA Subsidy Data Yourself:
Click Here for US Dataand Click Here for New Mexico
and Click Here for Curry County
and Click Here for Roosevelt County
and Click Here for Valencia County
and Click Here for Chaves County
and Click Here for Lea County
Copyright 2002-2006 Concerned Citizens for Clean Water, 7025 Sparrow Point, Fort Worth, Texas 76133. Phone: (817)346-7122. Email: citizens@saveourwatersupply.org.
