I’m writing to NIT today in support of the Prestage Hog Processing facility that will hopefully begin construction soon. If you are willing to publish this, I would like to share some facts that will hopefully in my opinion help the “Nay-Sayers” better understand why Cerro Gordo county needs this opportunity.
FACT- This county is a cesspool of drug addicts and drug users that are high all the time, not working, sitting in jail, or recovering and sitting in BG Clark. This crap is being forwarded on from generation to generation and we ALL know it. How many times in the past 20 years in this community have we seen a Father in jail for drugs, and then “low and behold” we see the Son 15-20 years later right behind him. Why? No future, no money, NO JOBS!
FACT- Most of these drug addicts and users are our Dads, Moms, Brothers, Sisters, Children, Aunts, and Uncles, THAT YOU ALL KNOW, that sit around and do nothing but wait for their next fix and have no plan in life to get a job because there is none here in this community that pay well.
FACT- There is countless and countless unpaid fines in Cerro Gordo County because nobody has a job to pay them!!! Or they have a $12 an hour job that has to support a family, rent, and utilities. Paying fines is not an option to these people so now the county suffers because they are losing out.
FACT- 4.2% of this county is unemployed. There is roughly 45,000 people in the county, so that’s roughly 2,000 that are not working. THAT’S ONLY THE ONES THAT ARE IN THE SYSTEM PEOPLE. What about ALL the others that have used up their benefits and are still sitting around doing nothing or the jobs that are available WILL NOT support their family?
FACT- HERE’S THE BIG ONE- There is over 9.5 million dollars of distributed food stamps in this county!!! That is astronomical for a county of 45,000 people!! That’s almost 20% of this county on food stamps!! That should tell ALL of you that there are so many people in this county that is either NOT working, working below poverty or at poverty level that they need food assistance. Which should then tell you that WE HAVE NO GOOD PAYING JOBS!!!
FACT- So many people in this community ARE TRYING to stay below poverty level to receive food stamps because the jobs in this community only pay enough to keep them below the surface per month! So the mentality in this community is, “work for $10 an hour so I’m able to receive $350 of food stamps a month.” Which in turn, helps these people to stay just above water with food stamps and live. CAN YOU PEOPLE NOT SEE THIS, can you not see that $12 an hour jobs just don’t cut it.
FACT- There is a pork producer called Maschoff. Maschoff produces 7.1 million hogs in confinements across Northern Iowa annually. The confinements are already built and serving their purpose. Maschoff has a current contract with a JBS pork processing. Coincidentally Maschoff’s contract is up with JBS in 2 years, the same time Prestage will be up and running. Hmmm, quite interesting. So with that being said, of course there is gonna be more hog confinements built. Why wouldn’t someone want a piece of that pie, YOUR LOCAL FARMER. But not near as many as the no-supporters are thinking. The hogs are already here in confinements that are already built.
FACT- WE ARE AN AGRICULTRUAL STATE!! This is what we do; we produce hogs, cattle, and chickens!!! THE WHOLE STATE STINKS!! There are 20 million hogs to 3 million people in this state. Yes I understand that telling someone that you work in a slaughterhouse is not the most elegant job you want to have. I feel a lot of people may be hung up on just that. AND THAT’S WHY YOU HAVE IMMIGRANTS WORKING AND NOT YOU. But do you want a way of life or do you want to worry about what people think when you can’t pay your bills or put food on your table as it is? Come-on!!!
And what if…BG Clark would work out a deal with Prestage? What if…Prestage could slow that revolving door at BG Clark? We all know that BG Clarker’s must have a job to go to when they get out. What if…Prestage will take these individuals and give them a $16-$18 an hour job instead of a $10 an hour job? And what if…Prestage could give a good amount of recovering addicts that have 2 kids and wife at home, a damn good job that just might give that Family hope and a future….
Thank you for your time.
—-
Submitted to NIT by a Mason City man who wishes to remain anonymous.
Submit your opinion for publication to NorthIowaToday@gmail.com
Please look at this web site, Mercy For Animals.org, http://www.mercyforanimals.org/.
Please watch this video, https://youtu.be/HE_FpSSK94k.
Please watch this video, Beans versus Beef, https://youtu.be/7yRqlTU5Az4, don’t forget to soak them.
There are over 2,000 of these pig slaughterhouses in North Carolina they have destroyed the land, water, air, health of the residents, and property values, please watch video, Undercover at Smithfield Foods, https://youtu.be/L_vqIGTKuQE.
I really think you need to go back to school and learn something. The video that you shared is of a sow farm not a packing plant. Also the 2,000 slaughter houses is a false statement. They are actually finishing farms. There are 32 slaughter houses and most of them are small town butcher shops that may process one are two animals per person just like Ventura, Osage, Elma, and the list could go on and on. The other 150 plants only process the carcass into the different cuts of meat like the Smithfield plant out on Eisenhower. This link is to the State of NC list of Slaughter houses if you care to be more informed.
http://www.ncagr.gov/meatpoultry/directory.htm
@pulled pork. The poster using the name mint is actually Peter Lagios. You’re wasting your time arguing with him. He thinks he knows everything about everything.
pulledpork – Where are they going to get the 4 to 6 million pigs a year, answer they/Smithfield Foods will put up hog confinements everywhere, please watch this video, Spy Drones Exposes Smithfield Food Factory Farms, https://youtu.be/ayGJ1YSfDXs.
For the record, yes there will have to be more finishing facilities build to cover the demand. Do you realize that there are only 22 manure manage plans for the county. Of the 47M pigs raised in the state only 307K are raised in CG county. Most of the farms are no where near town and that is for a reason. Now to the Smithfield comment, they have 5 slaughter in the Midwest and only one in Iowa. The others are in different states. They not only harvest their own pigs but also buy pigs from other integrators so I really don’t think they would sent their pigs here and if they did who cares.
Facts
and I’m going round down to make it simple
5M pigs a year/ 2 groups a year at a site per year = 2.5M spaces needed
2.5M spaces /2400 pigs (average Site) = 1042 more sites
1042 sites / 99 counties = 11 new sites per county
8Hrs and day, 5 days a week= 2080hrs a year
2080 x $15 an hour= $31,200
12Hrs over time a week x 40 weeks a year(being conservative) = 480
$15 x 1.5(overtime rate) x 480 = $10,800
witch + $42,000 a year and that a great wage for Mason
Trucking
20,000 pigs a day/ 160 pigs per truck =125 loads a day
If each trucker can haul two loads a day that is 75 new trucking jobs
there will also need to be more grains for feed, trucking the feed and so on.
To the comment with the link to the Smithfield sow farm, I think you need to drive 9 miles south to Rockwell. There sewer system is on the west side of 65 in open lagoons and they do the same thing with human wast. All the small towns in the state have the same type of system and they smell just as bad as a hog confinement. I have heard a lot people complain about all the manure that is going to be generated at the facility and the truth is that the pigs would only be there about 4 hours from the time the truck drops them off and they go through the kill. Yes I said kill, I know a lot will take issue with that terminology but it’s what happens, so the production of manure is low. The proposed site will also have a negative pressure that draws the air in and scrubs it before it gets sent out. I tired of all the hypocrites that oppose the killing of livestock but those people are the ones in line to buy it in the stores. The fact is a lot more people are eating meat protein around the world and pork is the fastest growing economy.
The drug issues may be growing due to the corrupted law and court systems we have locally.
questioning the FACTS here. Not in favor of this plant. It is not the save all as predicted by our civic leaders.
One other thing Matt where do the drugs come from and who are going to be the workers at this plant. Can you spell MEXICO. Every one of your points are not fact but a opinion of yours. Not only will our quality of life go down. The amount of meth and other drugs goes up. The cops are going to love this a never ending supply of crime coming to our city. i want to know when do the buses role in and where in the hell are these people going to live. What is the cities plan to house these individuals and families.
We need somebody to step up and be the main spokesman for the people. Everybody needs to contact their council members now. This absolutely has to be shut down. We need environmentally friendly politicians. Once they get there foot in the door it will be all over. Look at DeCoster and his pollution. This hog waste is going on the ground and into your water. If a town has to have waste treatment why doesn’t a hog confinement. It is always done on the cheap. Iowa needs to break its cycle of whats good for the farmer is good for you. Screw these politicians that only look out for their self and their cronies.
How about a bio mass center that grows plants for vitamin companies, there is zero creativity in attracting companies that are plant based.
Please watch this video about a pig factory, https://youtu.be/gNNI5qJxJ90.
Please watch this video, Spy Drones Expose Smithfield Foods Factory Farms, https://youtu.be/ayGJ1YSfDXs?list=PLWHY68pmpiSTYQpgddl7M8jJo6gKYfGC_.
I know many many people working at local industries for 15 to 20 dollars an hour that are major drug users and still manage to work and hide there drug usage. Hogs are not going to change that and the jobs your drug buddies get won’t change them either.
Also, we all know drug users know how to drink their tea to pass a urine test or pay someone else to pee in the bottle, or better yet pay off the tester.
Drug users are losers whether on welfare or working. The reality of the the drug situation is, there are no real consequences for buying and using it. Drugs even find their way in the county jail.
Law enforcement, the courts, social services, are an industry feeding on the public at the taxpayers expense and want all this misery to self perpetuate for job security.
No, Mr. Opinion writer you have it most awfully wrong. Sorry
Ya, I know. I should have used their instead of there. Then the extra the. I am a lousy proof reader, but you get the point.
@Watchdog-Excellent comment
LVS-Are you still in favor of this? Do you still think it will be a good hing for our city?
LoL no you don’t
Well said !
Hmm interesting! So basically your saying that the hog plant’s 2000 jobs should go to theses drug addicts.
The only fact in your article is that your county along with the other 98 have lazy leeches that suck off the government programs. The Interesting part of this is that they live ok on the government without working for 10 buck an hour job. The majority of people who are on the system could care less. I would much rather see someone trying and taking a little help than all in support. I run a small business and pay a boat load in taxes but see that the down trodden live as good as me. I pay good wages and have been hiring nonstop for 8 years. Nobody wants to work and when they apply they beg to work for cash as to not impede on their government benifits. More jobs are not going to change the culture. The government has to kick them out first.
You must be smokin some of that cia weed they imported from Mexicant – dreamer/liberturd/California dreamer. I have to go potty after you just finished packing me. TRUMP 2016 !!
Who ever wrote this must indulge in drugs themselves. Look at the other communities with a large hog facility and it proves it will not raise up a community. If anything it indicates that there will be more people and children that need assistance and increase the already burden welfare programs in our area.
agree
Exactly!
First, simply stating “FACT” before your opinion certainly does not make said opinion a fact. Secondly, stating these opinions without a willingness to identify one’s self and transparently stand behind what has been written is a bit cowardly.
Some of these points truly are valid. Like the drug problem we are seeing in our area. Also, the cyclical issue of poverty, substance abuse, work ethic that continues to be perpetuated within some families. And that some families take advantage of public assistance. However, these truths also happen to be true across the country.
Other points made here simple are untrue. There are NO good jobs in Mason City? There absolutely are! But finding a responsible individual with both a drivers license AND the ability to pass a UA isn’t. BeJe Clark does have plenty of residents that are required to attain credible employment as part of their progression through that program. Do these folks deserve a chance at a good job? Absolutely. But they have to be willing to maintain that job after their release from BeJe, and many are not. They take the job because they have to have it, not because they want it or plan to keep it. Obviously this is quite a blanket statement and does not apply to everyone at BeJe, but, as an employer, has been my experience.
Simply providing an opportunity for employment in no way guarantees anyone will take it. If someone is “just sitting around waiting for their next fix,” they are no more likely to go get a job at Prestage than they are at Menards or Target!
I am thoroughly disgusted at the prospect of this facility being built in our community. I wonder exactly who would be employed by this company. I have a very strong feeling that the majority of them would not be locals. I’ve seen what meat processing facilities do to a town, and it’s not pretty. Our community will be very undesirable to any other prospective reputable businesses once we become a packing town. I cringe at the thought of what may become of our community if this plan is approved and Prestage builds its meat processing facility.
What you say about 12 dollar jobs is right on. But 20 per cent of those jobs start out at what $12.20 a hour then the others start at what $13 80 a hr. You talk about drug and alcohol addiction how does having to work 52 hrs a week figure into this. This doesn’t sound lfamily friendly to me I Would think quality time at home with so called kids would be a better drug deterant. But hell work them longer they won’t have time to.abuse drugs and alcohol. I got it. This is going back 1930’s. What did labor fight for was the 40hr work week. This really a snapshot of the early1900 work a person as long as they can as cheap as they can. When he burns out he turns to drugs and alcohol but stays right here in mason city. . I wold say this plant pays a little better than retail wages wal mart and target. I would like to here how things turned out in towns that have similar experiences . The positives and negatives. Better in sight would be to interview different groups of people in a town that has one of these facilities and how it changed the town.
Too many of the people who need to get off their butts and work will not be able to pass drug testing. They think they are entitled to be pot heads, if not worse.
Most of your points are valid, except for the last fact, the reason for immigrants. You couldn’t be farther from the truth. President Theodore created laws for better working environments, however our political system has reverted us back. How do I know? Because I’m an USDA grader in one of these plants. However, just like being in the military, being a government employee, my hands are tied. Here in Wright County, Decoster had the working environments so horrible when he started up that all American citizens of left. No one here will work for them. It’s getting a little better from when I started 4 years ago, & a lot better since Decoster. However, you still have your greedy, selfish management, & politicians = slave labor.
The Decosters ended up in jail
That is a person that knows what they are talking about.
One of your “FACTS” points out people getting paid $12 per hour can’t support their families and pay fines…That is the starting salary listed for a 52 hour work week at your beloved Prestige farm.
Tell the truth for once. That is a base of $12.00 for the lowest level job and then there will be overtime on top. Which makes for a decent living. Of course you have to want to work and that is something a welfare baby like you refuses to do. Then of course you have the satisfaction of earning your keep instead of living off others.
He is telling you the truth dummy…
But you will figure it out soon enough when you meet your new neighbors… Don’t worry anything they can’t steal they just spray paint…