"Martin County residents have lots of concerns, but Ag Commissioner Wilton Simposon claims the project can’t be regulated by local government"
"America has had a long love affair with cowboys. We picture them riding, roping, and ranching and just swoon. But we don’t like thinking about what happens to the cattle they’re tending, and how these critters wind up as the millions of burgers sold by McDonalds.
To go from cows on the hoof to burgers on the bun, you need a slaughterhouse. A new one has been proposed for the edge of Lake Okeechobee, and it’s creating a lot of waves.
“A proposed slaughterhouse in western Martin County will bring more pollution and further generate toxic algal blooms in Lake Okeechobee,” the Treasure Coast newspapers reported last week. “Blood, feces, oil, grease, ammonia and antibiotic residue from the proposed slaughterhouse would contribute to harmful algal blooms.”
Oh, what a lovely stew! I’m surprised Campbell’s doesn’t sell that flavor.
Seriously, though, dumping all that offal is an awful thing to do to Florida’s largest lake, which has already been named the most polluted lake in America."
Craig Pittman reports for the Florida Phoenix April 30, 2026.
