Illinois hog farm expansion notices already at half of 2015 total
Hog producers in Illinois have already filed half as many expansion notices with state regulators as they did all of last year.
According to the state Department of Agriculture's website, there were 61 intent-to-construct applications filed so far in 2016. There were 122 such applications for the entirety of 2015.
Final regulatory say on new Illinois hog farms is with the state Department of Agriculture, which notes there are usually 100 to 120 applications for new and expanded hog operations each year.
During the 2015-16 time frame, there have been three intent-to-construct notices filed for hog operations in the metro-east. All three are in Washington County. Most of the intent-to-construct notices for the metro-east region involve beef and dairy operations, particularly in Clinton County.
Phil Borgic, who has a hog operation near Raymond, said the expansion is being driven by demand from consumers and improved pork prices. He said exports to Asia have played a part in heightening demand for pork from the state.
Borgic expects to add a facility or two to his operation.
“We’re looking for locations,” Borgic said Monday while showing a group of Illinois lawmakers through facilities. “I want to find something in Montgomery or Macoupin County. I'd like to keep the operations close to our people.”
Legislative tours are part of a strategy from the Illinois Pork Producers Association. Executive director Jennifer Tirey said tours particularly focus on urban and suburban lawmakers.
Producers also are encouraged to put out their message to members of the public, particularly when there's planning of new facilities, to help steer clear of controversy that can surround building of hog farms.
“It’s part of our proactive approach,” said Tirey. “We encourage them to talk to the residents, to talk to the county board, before it gets to that point.”
In 2012, Illinois was the fourth-biggest state for hog production with $1.5 billion in annual sales, per the most recent census of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Illinois Department of Agriculture intent-to-construct notices for region, 2015-16:
BOND COUNTY:
▪ Owner's Name: Frank Doll
Closest Town: Millersburg
Facility Name: Doll's Dairy
Project Species: Dairy
Total Site Animal Units (including Project Animal Units): 272
Project Status: Approved
CLINTON COUNTY:
▪ Owner's Name: Dave Huelsmann
Closest Town: St. Rose
Facility Name: D & M Beef LLC
Project Species: Beef
Total Site Animal Units (including Project Animal Units): 299
Project Status: Approved
▪ Owner's Name: Neal & Sarah Tebbe
Closest Town: Jamestown
Facility Name: Neal & Sarah Tebbe
Project Species: Beef
Total Site Animal Units (including Project Animal Units): 100
Project Status: Approved
▪ Owner's Name: Alan & Karen Timmermann
Closest Town: Breese
Facility Name: Alan & Karen Timmermann
Project Species: Dairy
Total Site Animal Units (including Project Animal Units): 522
Project Status: Approved
▪ Owner's Name: Kyle Hilmes
Closest Town: Carlyle
Facility Name: Kyle Hilmes Farms
Project Species: Dairy
Total Site Animal Units (including Project Animal Units): 180
Project Status: Approved
▪ Owner's Name: Danny & Mary Hugo
Closest Town: Hoffman
Facility Name: Greenville Livestock Inc
Project Species: Beef
Total Site Animal Units (including Project Animal Units): 3200
Project Status: Approved
▪ Owner's Name: Stanley & Joseph Kalmer
Closest Town: Damiansville
Facility Name: Stanley & Joseph Kalmer
Project Species: Dairy
Total Site Animal Units (including Project Animal Units): 349
Project Status: Approved
▪ Owner's Name: Tim Wesselmann
Closest Town: Carlyle
Facility Name: Tim Wesselmann
Project Species: Beef
Total Site Animal Units (including Project Animal Units): 350
Project Status: Inactive
▪ Owner's Name: Corey Hilmes
Closest Town: St. Rose
Facility Name: Corey Hilmes
Project Species: Dairy
Total Site Animal Units (including Project Animal Units): 359
Project Status: Approved
▪ Owner's Name: Phillip Arentsen
Closest Town: Damiansville
Facility Name: Arentsen Dairy Inc
Project Species: Dairy
Total Site Animal Units (including Project Animal Units): Not listed
Project Status: Approved
▪ Owner's Name: Randy Pingsterhaus
Closest Town: Albers
Facility Name: Randy Pingsterhaus
Project Species: Not listed
Total Site Animal Units (including Project Animal Units): 52
Project Status: Approved
▪ Owner's Name: Tim Wesselmann
Closest Town: Carlyle
Facility Name: Tim Wesselman
Project Species: Beef
Total Site Animal Units (including Project Animal Units): 350
Project Status: Approved
▪ Owner's Name: Jerry Diekemper
Closest Town: Carlyle
Facility Name: Diekemper Bros. Inc
Project Species: Dairy
Total Site Animal Units (including Project Animal Units): 833
Project Status: Approved
▪ Owner's Name: Eric Varel
Closest Town: Bartelso
Facility Name: Varel Dairy
Project Species: Dairy
Total Site Animal Units (including Project Animal Units): 2130
Project Status: Pending
ST. CLAIR COUNTY:
▪ Owner's Name: Marvin Parker
Closest Town: Hecker
Facility Name: Parker Dairy
Project Species: Dairy
Total Site Animal Units (including Project Animal Units): 335
Project Status: Approved
WASHINGTON COUNTY:
▪ Owner's Name:
Larry A. Hermanns
Closest Town: Tilden
Facility Name: Hermanns Farm
Project Species: Swine
Total Site Animal Units (including Project Animal Units): 633
Project Status: Approved
▪ Owner's Name: Barb Brinkmann
Closest Town: New Minden
Facility Name: Pine Road Pork
Project Species: Swine
Total Site Animal Units (including Project Animal Units): 296
Project Status: Approved
▪ Owner's Name: Steven Borrenpohl
Closest Town: Venedy
Facility Name: Borrenpohl Dairy
Project Species: Dairy
Total Site Animal Units (including Project Animal Units): 364
Project Status: Pending
▪ Owner's Name: Jeff Heckert & Ryan Ruggles
Closest Town: Stone Church
Facility Name: Jeff Heckert
Project Species: Swine
Total Site Animal Units (including Project Animal Units): 2508
Project Status: Approved
This story was originally published May 7, 2016 at 1:03 PM with the headline "Illinois hog farm expansion notices already at half of 2015 total."