Rural Lancaster County feedlot expansion will bring in additional 82,000 chickens

Tens of thousands of chickens will soon be coming to rural Lancaster County. A permit for the expansion of a commercial feedlot was unanimously approved by the Lincoln-Lancaster County Planning Commission Wednesday afternoon.

There were no public objections to the plan. The lot, which is located near North 148th Street and is operated by Bevans Farms, is partially within the jurisdiction of Waverly. The city had no objections to the plan and the expansion is completely within the jurisdiction of Lancaster County.

Once the 40-acre expansion is completed the lot will house four new barns which will be able to house a total of 82,000 chickens. Bevan Farms has been in operation since 1963. Currently the farm is able to hold 138,000 chickens. After the expansion over 220,000 chickens will be raised.

There are no houses within a quarter mile radius of the feedlot, six within a half-mile radius, and 27 within a one mile radius. The Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality had no objections.