RESOURCES

Below is a growing collection of studies and articles exploring the damage this industry inflicts upon the communities unfortunate enough to endure its presence.

ECOLOGICAL

U.S. Geologic Survey: Groundwater depletion - well and water risks information
The Sacramento Bee, 11/8/16: Whats that smell? Rendering odors offend residents
Twin Cities Pioneer Press, 2/27/17: St Paul rendering facility sues city over odor ordinance
Chicago Tribune, 8/9/17: Waste spill at Cargill slaughterhouse contaminates waterways
Des Moines Register, 8/12/12: Des Moines rendering smell battle years in making
Wisconsin State Journal, 10/12/17: Judge throws out industrial well permits scientists say would harm public waters
High Country News, 10/13/17: Stanford University study: One in 30 wells in the West failed in recent years

Delaware News Journal, 10/30/17: Wells poisoned at Sussex chicken plant

ECONOMICAL

Don Stull for the Kansas Reflector: What consolidated meat production costs Kansas ranchers and eaters
What Happens WhenThe Meat Packers Come To Town
Michael J. Broadway, Department of Geography Northern Michigan University: Meatpacking and the Transformation of Rural Communities: A Comparison of Brooks, Alberta and Garden City, Kansas*
Video: Dr. John Ikherd (U of Missouri) on negative consequences of Industrial AG on rural communities
Independent Record: Montana faces workforce crisis

Bureau of Labor Statistics: Meatpacking salary info
PBS Frontline Series: Inside the Slaughterhouse
PBS Frontline Series: Industrial meat
NPR Series: Slaughterhouses
Union of Concerned Scientists: Hidden costs of industrial agriculture
The New Yorker: Exploitation and abuse at the plant, immigrant workers endure conditions few Americans would put up with
NPR: Working 'the chain' slaughterhouse workers face lifelong injures
Washington Post: For Somalis, hope falls to the cutting floor, refugees entrapped by meat industry
Bloomberg: America's worst graveyard shift is grinding up workers

HUMAN

Michael J. Broadway for Journal of Rural Studies: Planning for Change in Small Towns or Trying to Avoid the Slaughterhouse Blues
Michael J. Broadway for Focus on Geography Magazine: The World “Meats” Canada: Meatpacking’s Role in the Cultural Transformation of Brooks, Alberta
Video: Dr. Donald Stull and Dr. John Ikerd address Great Falls residents at Civic Center
Northern Michigan University study: Trying to avoid the slaughterhouse blues (exhaustive socio-economic study)
Appraisal Institute study: Animal operations and residential property values
Michigan State University: Slaughterhouses and increased crime rates: An empirical analysis
Toronto Sun, 10/1/12: Alberta meatpacking plant has troubled history (Friesen's home town)
Minnesota Star-Tribune, 6/20/16 : Trouble in River City: Turning away $240 million plant, Mason City Looks Ahead
Chicago Tribune, 8/3/16: The price of pork: Cheap meat comes at a high cost in Illinois
CBS News, 5/2/17: Nebraska town rejects plan to create 1,100 jobs
CBS News, 10/27/17 : Tongonoxie, Kansas tells Tyson to get lost
Wall Street Journal, 11/29/17 : American farm towns with changing priorities reject industrial agriculture
Vox, 6/10/20 : The meat we eat is a pandemic risk, too

PUBLIC
COMMENTS

Agency Comments

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks: on the Special Permit Use for Silver Falls Distillery.
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks: on the Special Permit Use for Big Sky Cheese.
MEIC: on the Special Permit Use for Big Sky Cheese.

Guest Opinions (Opponents)

Great Falls Tribune, 3/26/19: Carolyn C
Great Falls Tribune, 12/11/19: Carolyn C
Great Falls Tribune, 1/16/20: Kurt R
Great Falls Tribune, 1/23/20: Guy A
Great Falls Tribune, 2/9/20: Nate K
Great Falls Tribune, 3/15/20: Jaybe F
Great Falls Tribune, 1/9/22: Protect The Falls

Guest Opinions (Proponents)

Great Falls Tribune, 3/12/20: Gregg S

MFP SUBMISSIONS

Submitted plans Madison Food Park filed with Cascade County

All links to submissions listed below:

Big Sky Cheese Special Use Permit

CASCADE COUNTY MINUTES

These listed meetings for the County Commissioners contain the agendas, minutes, and related documents for each meeting.
Upcoming calendar of events