Factory farms pose a significant threat to public health and the environment. By concentrating too much manure on too little land, factory farms often cause water and air pollution which threatens drinking water supply and impacts the surrounding community’s quality of life. Factory farms run the potential of releasing massive quantities of bacteria, nutrients, and other harmful pollutants to the surrounding waters.

Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) are the biggest of the factory farms and are not regulated in Indiana unless they are designated at least a "medium" CAFO based on the number of animals confined (e.g. 200-699 mature dairy cows, 750-2,499 hogs, or 37,500 - 124,999 chickens). A CAFO can produce as much waste as a small city, yet they are permitted to store this waste in open-air lagoons with little or no treatment. CAFOs and other large livestock facilities often spread manure on nearby cropland at unsustainable rates, leading to manure spills, fish kills, and groundwater contamination.

Unfortunately, a dairy operation just under the animal threshold was built next to the home where Eric and Lisa Stickdorn have lived in since 1994. In March and September of 2004, shortly after the dairy operation was built, the Stickdorns contacted IDEM after discovering that the CFO owner was discharging animal manure and parlor wash directly into a drainage tile that leached into a tributary of Symonds Creek that runs through the Stickdorn's property and into the shallow aquifer that feeds their drinking water well. Water testing on both occasions confirmed high levels of ammonia-nitrogen (8 ppm), e-coli and dissolved oxygen rendering the water unsuitable for livestock or human consumption.

Ultimately, IDEM refused to take any action because the operation is “too small” and not subject to regulation. In addition, the Stickdorns were forced to move from their home into an apartment because of the obnoxious fumes including high levels of hydrogen sulfide, ammonia and particulate matter from the operation's open slurry pit constructed 250 feet from the Stickdorn's property line and land application of manure on land adjacent to their home.

Seeking relief, the Stickdorns turned to the Wayne County Zoning Inspector in March of 2008 providing evidence that the adjacent CAFO was in violation of the county nuisance ordinance and requesting an inspection. However, the inspector refused to inspect the CAFO's activities due to the zoning exemption for “reasonable and customary” agricultural uses. The Stickdorn's appealed this decision to the Wayne County BZA and contacted LEAF for help.

On June 12, 2008, LEAF represented the Stickdorns at the BZA hearing on their appeal.  At the hearing, the BZA refused to appoint a third-party inspector as required by county ordinance on appeal of a zoning inspector decision. Consequently, LEAF filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari and Mandamus Action against the BZA.  Read the Petition  and supporting legal briefs:

Petitioners' Memorandum in Support of Summary Judgment;

Petitioners' Response Memorandum;

Petitioners' Reply Memorandum.

LEAF also initiated negotiations with the CAFO owner by threatening legal action if the owner failed to eliminate nuisance conditions. Read the demand letter.

Unfortunately, after agreeing to implement measures that would abate nuisance conditions and protect ground water, the CFO refused to sign the settlement agreement prepared by LEAF which detailed the agreed to measures and, to date, has not implemented any of those measures. Consequently, on November 9, LEAF filed a Complaint with the Wayne County Circuit Court for nuisance, negligence, gross negligence and trespass to obtain compensatory and punitive damages and injunctive relief for the Stickdorns.

CAFOs not only pose a serious environmental threat, but they also reduce farm animals to mere commodities. Although most of us are upset by the treatment of animals in "puppy mills," most ignore the fact that cows, pigs, turkeys, ducks, sheep, and chickens also feel pain and suffering.  To better understand the torture farm animals endure on factory farms, watch the video below.