Proposed chicken farms were met with opposition again when the Washington County Board of Supervisors met last in Blair when hundreds came out to express their concerns.
Despite two applicants pulling their requests, four sites have been approved. The farms would be built to support Costco and supply the national chain with chickens for the processing plant in Fremont.
With 190,000 chickens housed on each farm, opponents say the smell would be overwhelming and pollution would increase.
Some, however, see opportunity.
"Corn and beans have been at an all-time low for the past five years and its hard to even break even and we need to diversify," farmer Erik Soll said. "It comes down to, do we really want to stay in farming, and we do."
The four locations approved are in Blair, Telbasta, Herman and Arlington. The farms in Blair will be built close to residential areas.
