State regulators will hold a public hearing on the proposed expansion of five dairies around Oregon after multiple requests from Salem vegan groups.
The Statesman Journal in Salem reports that this will be the first hearing in more than four years on changes to Oregon confined animal feeding operations, which are sometimes called “factory farms.” The hearing is expected in September or October.
After 17 requests from activists, advisory groups are now looking at how the state can restrict information about such farms from being released to the public. Officials say farmers fear releasing permits puts them at risk from people who want to videotape, trespass or vandalize property.
Environmental groups say the state is following a trend of restricting information about farms to the public.
