‘This is hurting local farming’: Seward County residents express concerns with new zoning proposal

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — A new farming facility could be coming to rural Seward County, if approved by the zoning commission.

A concentrated animal feeding operations facility is in the discussion to be placed on a massive chunk of land in Seward County, and some homeowners in the area aren’t happy about it.

“Family farms, not factory farms.” That’s the message from those in the community fighting the new zoning proposal.

An anonymous resident spoke with Channel 8 Friday, expressing concerns with the proposal, and believing there should be another way.

“We are farmer families, we love local farming. This is not that,” said a Seward County homeowner. “This is corporate, and this is factory farming. This is hurting local farming.”

A concentrated animal feeding operations facility is a large scale agricultural facility that confines animals for meat, eggs and milk production.

Anonymous residents in the area are citing health risks and environmental concerns with the facility.

“There’s a lot of unknowns. A lot that hasn’t been vetted. A lot of due diligence that hasn’t happened, ” a Seward County resident said. “There’s a lot of negative impacts, not just in the vicinity, but all of Seward county.”

Documents show the project would headed by Pine Creek Poultry LLC.

“We are on our property, we’re outside all the time,” said an anonymous homeowner. “From what we’re hearing from other people that live close by these facilities, that’s not going to be possible.”

Channel 8 has reached out to the Seward zoning administrator for comment on the proposal, but are still waiting to hear back.

The zoning commissions board will take up this vote on July 21. Their office is located at 529 Seward Street #301, Seward, NE .