COLUMBIA (AP) - Opponents of a proposed hog farm that would house 10,000 breeding sows in Mid-Missouri have requested a hearing to stall construction until an appeal challenging the facility's permit is complete.
The move by the Friends of Responsible Agriculture is the latest step in a months-long fight to stop construction of the farm in Callaway County.
The group has filed a separate appeal of the Department of Natural Resources' decision to grant a permit allowing the Callaway Farrowing farm on 20 acres near Kingdom City.
"The reason it's so important that we get this stay is so it stops everything, construction-wise, before the appeal process is taken care of," Jones said.
"We're very hopeful we can get that decision turned around with our attorneys' guidance."
Area landowners were first notified in May of the proposed farm, to be operated by Eichelberger Farms of Wayland, Iowa. Opponents held two public meetings and submitted a petition with 1,400 signatures, citing concerns about the potential smell and water pollution from farm runoff, the company's engineering documents and its waste management plans.
The state granted the permit Nov. 21, saying many of the opponents' concerns were out of the state's jurisdiction and Missouri law requires a permit to be issued within 60 days of receiving an application.
An initial request for a stay was rejected after Friends of Responsible Agriculture missed a Jan. 2 meeting with representatives of Callaway Farrowing - a meeting that Jeff Jones, a member of the opposing group, said took place without their knowledge.
A lawyer with the Administrative Hearing Commission said the request for another meeting is pending and the appeal hearing for the Department of Natural Resources permit will be Feb. 10.