Iowa DNR taking another 30 days to review Center Point hog confinement proposal

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has extended its period of review by 30 days on a rural Center Point farmer's proposal to expand a 300-hog nursery into a confinement operation that will feed 4,160 hogs for market.

Paul Petitti, senior environmental engineer for the DNR, on Wednesday said the review extension will give the DNR until Aug. 29 to make its decision on farmer Matt Ditch's request for a hog confinement construction permit.

Neighbors around the Ditch family farm, 4853 West Otter Rd., Center Point, have objected to his plans and have lodges their objections via a petition to the DNR.

Petitti said the petition is being reviewed by the DNR legal staff, which has resulted in the review delay, he said.

The neighbors argue that Ditch's proposal is not an expansion of an existing confinement building, but the construction of a new building and so his plans should have to undergo a more rigorous environmental review.

The neighbors say the new confinement operation will lower their property values, will smell and will threaten waterways.

Ditch has said he will use an odor control system and will plant trees around the new building to buffer it from neighbors.