000533 Hog Farms NOT As Harmful As Many BelieveMay 28, 2000Lincoln, NE - Farm and environment groups are criticizing a university study that concluded large-scale hog farms are not as harmful to local economies as many believe. The six-state study by a University of Nebraska-Lincoln researcher concluded that large hog farms do not hamper retail sales, lower incomes, increase poverty or lead to fewer farm jobs. However, the study said populations dropped and property taxes were higher in counties that include large swine operations. Critics said the findings were flawed because of fundamental statistical and analysis problems, and that its conclusions should be ignored. Much of the study's data is not relevant because it was from the years 1977 to 1992, they said. They also said the definition of a “large” hog operation was too broad, including farrow-to-finish operations with as few as 150 sows. “The entire report is meaningless,” said William Weida, an economics professor from Colorado College. Weida's analysis was partially funded by the Farmers Union and Center for Rural Affairs in Walthill. “This report was so far over the line you had to hunt it down and shoot it,” said John Hansen, president of the Nebraska Farmer's Union. A letter signed by 12 environmental and agricultural advocacy groups was sent to Nebraska state senators urging them to ignore the study. “As people who live and work in rural communities daily, we simply believe the UNL report on pork production is wrong,” the letter said. The study, finished in March, was led by University of Nebraska-Lincoln sociologist John Allen. The study explored pork production in 36 counties in Iowa, Nebraska, Colorado, Indiana, Missouri and North Carolina over 15 years from 1977 to 1992. He said he used that data because it was the most recent available when the study began in 1995. He also said his research was reviewed by other professors at the university. “We went into this knowing this was a very sensitive topic,” Allen said.
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