Chronicle's Piece "Wild Things"

On Thursday April 29 Chanel 5's "Chronicle" aired a show entitled "Wild Things". The situation with Krochmal Farm and the odors here in Tewksbury were part of that show. You can follow this link to view the show.

Channel 5 did a good job portraying the situation here and in being fair. However our adversaries are continuing with the deceptive campaign they have waged from the beginning of this terrible situation.

Massachusetts Farm Bureau President Richard Bonanno is seen making his comments on a farm abutted by a newer development of large homes. Seemingly Dr. Bonanno is attempting to make the point that this is all about sprawl and new developments. You should know that the farm and neighborhood behind Dr. Bonanno is not Krochmal Farm or a Tewksbury neighborhood. That would be inconvenient for those who want to make that argument because the large homes adjacent to Krochmal Farm in the newer development are owned by the family who owns Krochmal Farm. Many of the houses in this neighborhood and some of the neighbors have been here since before there was a Krochmal Farm. This isn't about the farmers who do have it tough or about urban sprawl. The issue in Tewksbury is about the installation of a Factory Farm Style building and enormous waste tank near already existing homes, something that the Farm Bureau and Dr. Bonanno seemingly would rather ignore. It is suspected by some that the defense of Massachusetts' only Factory Style (and largest) Hog Facility by the Farm Bureau could mean that more of these operations are on the way in our state. If you think that's silly look into it. Krochmal Farm set a precedent: Build a Factory Style Finishing Building without permits close to neighbors and the State will do nothing about it.

Also in this segment the owner of Krochmal Farm says the following about House Bill 3818:

"it wouldn't put just us out [of business], it would put almost every farm in New England out of business"...

That is the most extreme and ridiculous statement in a series of deceptive statements made so far. Who would want all the farms shut down? This is yet another insult to the intelligence of farmers who in this state and numerous other states rally against this brand of farming. Various members of the TewksburyOdor group have worked on, were born on and otherwise enjoy the products and recreation of farms. We are talking about quality of life and (the as of yet unaddressed) environmental issues of the spreading and composting of hundreds of thousands of gallons of liquefied hog waste in our neighborhood.

There are over 5000 farms in this state
and one factory style Hog Farm.

The Mass. Dept of Agricultural Resources and The Farm Bureau did nothing to stop this or fix it.
House Bill 3818 is a bill for Tewksbury only that would regulate hog farms only.

It came as no surprise that the interviews on the farm were done at the petting zoo. This is standard practice. Channel 5 was not allowed to photograph the enormous "Finishing Building" (not a mere barn) that is capable of housing 1500 hogs and about a half-million gallons or hog feces and urine according to records at the Town's Building Dept.

We would like to thank Channel 5 and Chronicle for airing this piece and allowing our story to be told. It comes as a great stroke of luck for the farm that the Odor Control system (half paid for with Massachusetts tax dollars) broke down after the interviews done here by Chronicle.

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