Fourteen months ago, it was reported that the largest corporation in pork production (Murphy) planned to set up 20 industrial hog factory farrowing operations in Illinois, each supplying enough hogs for five nursery facilities and 10 finishing facilities.

Thanks to the concerted effort of many people, there is only one farrowing facility under construction in Knox County, and that is still the subject of continuing litigation.

If the Murphy contractor wins, this one facility plans to double in size to include more than 15 surface acres of hog feces and urine with Murphy-owned sows annually producing 140,000 baby pigs. Similar facilities could be expected to pop up elsewhere in the state followed by hog nurseries and finishing factories.

If Murphy loses, there is precedence that even if the facility is built, it will not be allowed to operate. In addition, counties throughout Illinois will have the legal leverage to locally control corporate industrial livestock factories.

For the first time in Illinois history, a case involving the zoning of an industrial livestock factory will be considered by the appelate and possibly the Illinois Supreme Court. Your support is needed to sustain this legal effort.

If you want to support the people who want farms and not factories, send your contributions to "F.A.R.M. Legal Defense Fund," Williamsfield, IL 61489. If you think these facilities should be built regardless of local objections, send your support to Murphy at the headquarters in Rose Hill, NC 28458.