LARNED — The Pawnee County Commissioners have directed Pawnee County Attorney Douglas McNett to set up a public forum including the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and officials of Innovative Livestock Services in Pawnee County, regarding the ag company’s bid to locate a contained livestock expansion facility in the county.

In December, ILS registered with KDHE per K.S.A. 65-171d to locate a confined feeding facility in the vicinity of Zook in Pleasant Valley Township in southeastern Pawnee County. KDHE then initiated a public comment period on Dec. 19, with all comments due to KDHE by Jan. 18, 2025. The state requires KDHE registration prior to any new construction of a proposed animal capacity exceeding 300 animals that includes legal description of the prescribed land tract and separation distances in compliance with state regulations.

The format of the proposed forum would allow ILS and KDHE to explain steps involved in the pre-permitting process and a possible timeline, McNett noted, saying that he had been in contact with both ILS and KDHE regarding a public forum.

“I’m going to be meeting with the Commissioners on Monday to let them know what they have told me,” McNett said. “I think that KDHE will be able to explain to the public what the timeline looks like and what is required, that’s what we’re hoping for.”

“The registration with KDHE is just the start of the process,” McNett said. “At this stage we can provide input, but the only thing that would be impactful at this stage is the use of roads,” he said. “The public forum would also be helpful in quelling some of the misinformation being spread about the project.”

Larned resident Merrill Cauble met with the Commissioners as the proposal was being discussed at the Commissioners’ Monday meeting in Pawnee County. On Wednesday, Cauble also met with Stafford County Commissioners to discuss the effect on air and water quality as well as the economic effects on the surrounding communities in Pawnee, Edwards and Stafford counties. Both commissioner boards encouraged contact to be made with KDHE requesting a public hearing on the issue.

About ILS

ILS’s roots in Pawnee County began with Ward Feed Yard in 1962 at a 1,500-head facility south of Larned. ILS Farms originated in 2007 from the union of Ward Feed Yard and Great Bend Feeders. Since that time, ILS has grown and evolved into one of the nation’s leading cattle feeding, farming and agribusiness enterprises with a capacity of 210,000 head at 11 contained livestock locations in Kansas and Nebraska.