MOORHEAD, Minn. -- A poultry farm near Hawley, Minn., was given approval March 17 by the Clay County Planning Commission to build a new barn and manure storage building that will allow the addition of 200,000 birds.
The Baer Poultry Co. farm in Eglon Township has a 63-foot by 522-foot barn housing 135,000 birds, and a 63-foot by 252-foot manure storage area.
The company was allowed to build a 460-foot by 59-foot barn to house 200,000 additional pullets -- the name for a layer hen before it lays its first egg -- and a 200-foot by 40-foot manure area.
An environmental review of the proposal found that "there was no adverse impact to air quality," says Tim Magnusson, director of planning and environmental programs for Clay County.
The company is owned by Amos Baer, a member of the planning commission, who recused himself from the vote.
