SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) recently approved plans for an 18,000-capacity hog farm in rural Blandinsville, despite the protestations of a few rural neighbors and a local environmental group.

Construction of South Morgan Acres’ first barn, a 3,500-animal facility, was approved by IDOA Waste Management Program Manager Brad Beaver. It is one of five buildings planned for the operation, which will be located north of Blandinsville in McDonough County, near the Henderson County line.

The IDOA had delayed approval for the construction of any buildings in February, requesting more information regarding waste management planning and certified livestock manager requirements under the Livestock Management Facilities Act, the Galesburg Register-Mail reported.

“I’m very disappointed that it was approved,” said Barbara Adams, who, along with her 85-year-old husband, live in a home that will now be “sandwiched” between two large hog farms. “I guess we’ll just have to see what it will be like (before deciding whether to move).”

South Morgan Farm’s management team has reached out to those affected by the farm’s presence, as well as to area environmental groups to address their concerns, Dr. Bill Hollis told Farm World earlier this year. He is executive director of Professional Swine Management (PSM), the company hired to manage the operation.

“We respect their concerns for water quality and air quality, and we explained how we address (those concerns),” he said.

Hollis answered questions from some of the 200 people who turned out for an IDOA public hearing on the farm’s construction in December 2011, calling the site a safe location for odor control, traffic and minimizing nutrient loss to the soil, according to the Peoria Journal Star.

Four or five semi-truck loads of feed would travel to the farm per week, Hollis told those who attended the meeting, adding “we’ll continue to work with the road commissioner to ensure we’re good neighbors.”

The green-lighting of the project from the IDOA did not come without strings. PSM was notified that state inspectors will monitor the construction phase as well as follow up with inspections once operations commence. In addition, IDOA demanded a formal waste management plan must be implemented and approved.

South Morgan Acres Vice President Steve Krogmeier told news sources he expects construction to begin soon and production to begin in early 2013. Twenty new jobs are expected to be created, according to farm officials.