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Carroll's guest is Bridget Hammerquist from Friends of Maha'ulepu. She tells us more about the proposed dairy farm in Maha'ulepu Valley on Kauai. The proposal is to start with 700 pregnant cows and grow the herd to 2,000. Bridget tells us the proposal indicates waste from the cows will be recycled back as fertilizer for the Pastureland. However, per Bridget, the amount of manure produced by that many cows will not recycle fast enough to stay on the farm. It will eventually end up in the ocean. The environment cannot handle that much waste, and the resulting runoff will put a large amount of nitrates and ammonia into the nearby ocean. Bridget notes, the state is concerned about the remaining cesspools in Hawaii that produce a small amount of waste compared to what a huge herd of cows will produce. Why is that?
Hawaii Dairy Farms say they have an ideal plan for their dairy farm based on dairy farms in New Zealand. However, per Bridget, New Zealand recently found out they have huge water pollution problems, both drinking water and ocean water, due to the large amount of cows found there. Bridget also tells us Hawaii Dairy Farms does not have an NRCS Conservation Plan or the proper permits. They have not addressed the many concerns of the citizens of Kauai, and the state is slow to react.
The people are not opposed to farms and dairies, but they are concerned about the way this is being set up and managed. Listen as Bridget discusses the many issues the Hawaii Dairy Farms proposal raises.
A caller notes the nearby Hyatt is already losing business due to the dairy.
Carroll notes there needs to be a sound environmental approach to this project. Once again, the state needs to step up and do their job.
Visit the website www.friendsofmahaulepu.org for more information and sign a petition. Also, contact Friends of Maha'ulepu at 808-742-1037, or email to: friendsofmahaulepu@gmail.com
Visit www.hawaiidairyfarms.com for information about the dairy farm, or contact Amy Hennessey at 808-544-8973.
Link here to more pictures of Kauai
Link here to the 12/11/14 story on HawaiiNewsNow.com,
Follow: Carroll Cox, Bridget Hammerquist, Friends of Mahaulepo, Hawaii Dairy Farms, Kauai dairy farm, cows, clean water, runoff, coral, pollution,
