The bill concerning th eissue is now before the state legislature, but is offering little relief to industry or other intersted parties.

The bills promise substantial sums, over five years, to install new technology at 100 large pig production operations. All to the good, and that’s one kind of reality check.

Here’s another. Both existing and proposed laws leave the industry entirely too comfy within the status quo.

We certainly don’t want to discourage the lawmakers from supporting the science, especially if, to cite an example with a small but measurable track record, methane from swine waste can be captured and put to use.

The legislature’s first responsibility, however, is to set reasonable health, environmental and quality-of-life standards to protect the public. Complying with them is the industry’s responsibility. The House-passed budget for fiscal 2008 commits only $2 million, and the 2,300 nonparticipating mega-farms will be violating no law if they don’t even try to improve.

Source: FayObserver.com