Injunction request pulled, on Summit Pork project near Liberty, Nebraska

BEATRICE – A preliminary injunction sought by opponents of a large hog confinement plan has been dismissed, at the request of the plaintiffs.

A hearing on the injunction against a proposed Otto Farms—Summit Pork plan was to be heard Monday in Gage County District Court but was dismissed on Friday.

Earlier, Judge Rick Schreiner had denied a request for a temporary restraining order involving the plan for a 6,250 head concentrated animal feeding operation…on a site north of Liberty, Nebraska.

It could become the second such operation in Gage County by Summit Pork, an Alden, Iowa-based company.   It has been working with a local farm family, who would use the manure produced by the CAFO as fertilizer, injected into its fields. It’s similar to one under construction between Pickrell and Adams, that earlier gained county approval.    

Opponents of the plan near Liberty were seeking to block the proposal, which will now go before the Gage County Board on Wednesday…for a final vote on the special use permit application.   Developers say they’ve met all county zoning regulations, agreed to certain conditions… and have received a state operating permit following environmental review.

Opponents say they are concerned about potential odor, possible groundwater contamination, effect on property values and the ability of a nearby road to handle additional truck traffic.