Accident or not, at the very least the owners of the
Furtado Dairy in east Gilroy should be hit with a stiff
fine.
A 4.5-mile plume of cow-manure sewage fouling small creeks,
threatening groundwater and stinking up the neighborhood should not
be dismissed with a slap on the wrist.
Accident or not, at the very least the owners of the
Furtado Dairy in east Gilroy should be hit with a stiff fine.
A 4.5-mile plume of cow-manure sewage fouling small creeks, threatening groundwater and stinking up the neighborhood should not be dismissed with a slap on the wrist.
Whether criminal charges should be levied will become clear as the district attorney’s office completes its investigation.
What’s clear now is that Manny Furtado is running an operation that should be subject to strict scrutiny from government agencies. The Santa Clara Valley Water District, the county planning department and the state Department of Fish and Game should make monitoring the Furtado Dairy a high priority. We’d suggest unannounced site visits as a condition of continued operation.
If it’s clear that the dairy is out of compliance with permitting requirements, it should temporarily be closed down until such time that the operation can become
shipshape.
Dairy farms are a messy business, so it’s even more important for an owner to take the responsibility of land stewardship and being a good farming neighbor seriously.
The right to farm comes with responsibility.
Frankly, it’s a shame when an agriculture operation becomes a clear culprit. Farmers in a semi-urban area like South County have enough difficulties. The owners of the Furtado Dairy have publicly made the case for people who might lump together all ag operations as unhealthy and inhospitable neighbors.
Moreover, the sewage spill threatens to taint another farmer’s adjacent crops.
Santa Clara County’s Right-to-Farm ordinance is built on a trust between farmers and their neighbors, who largely work out their differences.
If the farmer violates that trust and the law, the right to farm for all becomes endangered and the area’s important agriculture industry takes another hit.
It’s incumbent on the district attorney and the agencies involved to subject the Furtado Dairy to thorough scrutiny and recommend appropriate actions.
Rogue farming operations are not healthy for our community.
