An Illinois meat company recently received the green light to build a large-scale hog farm in a rural Illinois county, despite ongoing complaints from local residents.

South Morgan Acres, LLC, has been struggling with local officials since last October in an attempt to build a major hog farm in McDonough County, Illinois. The permit they applied for would allow them to construct a five building facility capable of handling about 15,000 hogs. After a months of delay, the Illinois Department of Agriculture approved the facility. Morgan Acres officials are hopeful that their farm will be completed by the end of 2013.

Local residents, however, are less jubilant than Morgan Acres officials are. Many worry about potential odors and are afraid that the hog farm will adversely affect the environment. According to one local resident, “I’m very disappointed that it was approved. We already have (another hog farm) a mile away to the north of us, and (South Morgan Acres) will be to the south of us, closer than a mile away. I don’t think it’s going to be a very nice place for us to live.”

The struggle over a hog farm in rural Illinois could have broader implications nationwide. With many cities and municipalities debating the future of urban farming, including the potential for raising animals within city boundaries, struggles between residents and farmers over odors and pollution could cause many cities to reconsider their support of the urban farming fad.

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Written by: Justin Ellison / Farm Plus Staff Writer