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
• FAO study: The environmental impact of animal processing industries 
• 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

• 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 
• IA University study: Negative impact on wages/economic growth
• 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​
• One Montana: slaughterhouse feasibility study

---

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  
• Video: Dr. Donald Stull (U of Kansas) on negative slaughterhouse community impacts
• ​Northern Michigan University study: Trying to avoid the slaughterhouse blues (exhaustive socio-economic study)
• Appraisal Institute study: Animal operations and residential property values
• ​Crawford Stewardship Project: Compilation of industrial agriculture property devaluation studies
• 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

​Guest Opinions (Proponets)

• 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:

• Permit Application
• Project Overview
• Operation Statement
• SUP Criteria
• Project Exhibits
• Flood Plain Map
• Height Military Overlay District
• Soil Report

​

• 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.

STAY CONNECTED

For recent news and updates regarding the Madison Food Park, subscribe to our mailing list.