Neighbors say they're breathing cow fecal matter
MOXEE, Wash. -- Jim Dyjack and his wife built their retirement home in the late 90's. Soon after, a dairy farm went up right next door.
"This is probably the dirtiest house I've ever lived in because we can't keep up with the place,” Jim said.
Jim says the dairy farm causes brown dust to settle on his cars and inside his house. Jim and many other Yakima Valley neighbors tell KIMA they're fed up with breathing it in.
"We want the odor, the dust, the fecal matter to stay across the street where it belongs,” Jim said. “I have a right to use my yard just like he has the right to use his."
Tom says he's filled over 500 complaints with Yakima's Clean Air agency but got nowhere. I spoke with Clean Air and the Department of Ecology. Both say there are currently no monitors in place in our area to test for dirty air related to farming. It means if you live near a farm, there's no telling what you're breathing.
I had a lengthy conversation with the Yakima Clean Air Agency. They denied me an on-camera interview because they say there's too much information surrounding this problem for them to sum it all up in a single interview.
Clean air did tell me the type of equipment needed to monitor air near farms is too expensive. And, that clean air is only mandated to monitor pollutants like smoke and dust--not dairy residue.
"That's fecal dust that's coming across,” Jim said. “I've taken pictures to them where I can't even see my front yard. That's dust."
Lower Valley neighbors argue they need more air monitor, especially in places like Sunnyside. Clean Air says it only has air monitors in Toppenish and Harrah.
"Start putting out monitors, monitors where they belong,” Jim said. “Not in the middle of the city. Let’s put them out where the industry is that's causing the problem."
The Department of Ecology says it is currently conducting a Nitrate Study. The results might help bring a solution to the air problem.
"This is probably the dirtiest house I've ever lived in because we can't keep up with the place,” Jim said.
Jim says the dairy farm causes brown dust to settle on his cars and inside his house. Jim and many other Yakima Valley neighbors tell KIMA they're fed up with breathing it in.
"We want the odor, the dust, the fecal matter to stay across the street where it belongs,” Jim said. “I have a right to use my yard just like he has the right to use his."
Tom says he's filled over 500 complaints with Yakima's Clean Air agency but got nowhere. I spoke with Clean Air and the Department of Ecology. Both say there are currently no monitors in place in our area to test for dirty air related to farming. It means if you live near a farm, there's no telling what you're breathing.
I had a lengthy conversation with the Yakima Clean Air Agency. They denied me an on-camera interview because they say there's too much information surrounding this problem for them to sum it all up in a single interview.
Clean air did tell me the type of equipment needed to monitor air near farms is too expensive. And, that clean air is only mandated to monitor pollutants like smoke and dust--not dairy residue.
"That's fecal dust that's coming across,” Jim said. “I've taken pictures to them where I can't even see my front yard. That's dust."
Lower Valley neighbors argue they need more air monitor, especially in places like Sunnyside. Clean Air says it only has air monitors in Toppenish and Harrah.
"Start putting out monitors, monitors where they belong,” Jim said. “Not in the middle of the city. Let’s put them out where the industry is that's causing the problem."
The Department of Ecology says it is currently conducting a Nitrate Study. The results might help bring a solution to the air problem.
Dairy Farms were not here first. Devrie moved in next to Dyjaks. EPA says Hydrogen Sulfide and ammonia are dangerous to human health. These factory farms are horrendous manure pits and have made Yakima Valley the Toilet bowl of the state. Since when are the 215,000 cows in Yakima County more important than the people who live there? YRCAA is told what to say by the dairy industry. They have no concern for public health. They refuse to spend the money to protect people. Why not have the dairy industry buy the scientific equipment to monitor hydrogen sulfide and ammonia. The Harrah monitor was put in by EPA, not YRCAA
farm was there first stop complaining and move you idiots
We are not idiots. Lame defense for polluting
No one should have to breathe cow poop because their neighbor moves in and pollutes. The dairies are the ones polluting. 215,000 cows using up all our water. Ecology says that yakima Valley water is over %400 overallocated, yet Devrie was allowed to move in. Something is wrong with that picture. Why is Yakima County allowing these dairie34s to destroy people's land, air and water. Answer-money. The Right to Farm does not give the right to pollute.
The gall of some people never ceases to amaze me. If one moves to the city one should expect heavier traffic, higher tax rates and a huge number of ramifications of the move. If one moves there it's on them. The same goes for those who move into an agricultural area. Farming means soil tillage. Dairying means dust and manure odor.
These people knowingly moved into an established agricultural area. The possible downside of living there should have been obvious. They made their choice and now they have the gall to gripe about the conditions. So what if a dairy moved in? The process for securing the property for the dairy and regulatory prerequisites for same probably took longer than the process of buying the property for their home.
Regardless, it's all about common sense and logic. If one doesn't want dirt, dust and odors, DON'T move to the country and if one does, you made your choice. You can live with it or you can move to the city, but above all you should consider not complaining and whining about natural consequences of living in a farming area.
The Dyjaks lived there first. Get your facts straight. It was the polluting facory farms who moved in next to all the people in the area. Now their well levels are dropping. Last year Devrie had another well being dug. What about the people, who's wells are being diminished? This is all about money, not about the well being of the people.