Few Speak at Hearing on Expansion of Darke County, Ohio, Egg Farm.

Byline: Ben Sutherly

Nov. 29--JACKSON, Ohio--Permits that would let the nation's largest egg producer house 1.5 million chickens at one of its Darke County farms drew a smattering of criticism and support at a public hearing this week.

The state Department of Agriculture called Tuesday's meeting to accept comments on draft permits the agency recently issued to Cal-Maine Foods Partnership of Jackson, Miss. If finalized, those permits would let Cal-Maine build six chicken barns, each 68 feet wide and the length of two football fields, on a farm four miles northeast of Union City.

Of the 21 people who came to Mississinawa Valley School for the …