Foes of Missouri Hog Farm Proposal Win Court Ruling

A Cole County court ruling has delayed final approval of a state permit for a large hog breeding operation in mid-Missouri.

Cole County Circuit Court Judge Daniel Green on Tuesday ordered the Department of Natural Resources to turn over documents to opponents of the proposed operation in western Callaway County.

The Columbia Daily Tribune reports the ruling blocks a Clean Water Commission vote on the permit sought by Callaway Farrowing LLC.

Opponents, called Friends of Responsible Agriculture, sued in June to prevent the water commission from voting on a hearing officer's recommendation that the permit be approved. The lawsuit claims the commission toured hog farms with Callaway Farrowing representatives, without notifying the proposal's opponents of the tours.

DNR had sought to prevent release of documents relating to those tours.