Rural areas have been lagging in population growth since 2006. For some, preserving the rural lifestyle involves a constant battle to fight off urban invasion. For example, the arrival of bright lights from frac-sand mining companies in Illinois and the construction of warehouses in Pennsylvania have made life miserable for residents who once enjoyed the peace, quiet and comfort of country living.
A few weeks ago the Quality Sand Products facility in Utica, Ill., turned its bright white lights on, and "the
lights have stayed on all night, every night," often shining into the homes of residents, Rachel Stella reports for the News Tribune. Another sand mine is scheduled to be opened by Aramoni and will come within 100 yards of some properties. The sand is to be used in hyrdaulic fracturing of oil and gas wells.
In addition to the annoying glare of the lights, farmers worry that the night light will hurt soybean crops, Stella writes. Former agronomy and crop science professor Doug Stockley said soybeans "are sensitive to 'photoperiodism,” and "artificial lighting can stand in for daylight to light-sensitive plants, which will not recognize nighttime if exposed to the artificial light even after the sun has set." He told Stella, “Soybeans depend on that cycle of night and day to determine when it’s appropriate to move from a vegetative state to a flowering and reproductive state. As the days decrease in length, the soybean plant senses that, and once it reaches a certain point, it says, ‘Hey, it’s time to switch over and do flowering.’” (Read more)
A similar problem is occurring around Carlisle, Pa., where historical Revolutionary War farms are being replaced with warehouses that tower above homes and block out the sky, Joseph Cress reports for The Sentinel. Mary and Jim Dodrill said they fear increased traffic and noise will decrease their property value if warehouses are built on two sides of their farm.
"While the state agency would encourage private property owners to value their historic resources, there are no laws prohibiting developers of private property from tearing down an old farmhouse or any other structure to make way for a warehouse or some other use," said Howard Pollman, spokesman for the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. Pollman told Cress, “Private property rights trump everything." (Read more)
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In addition to the annoying glare of the lights, farmers worry that the night light will hurt soybean crops, Stella writes. Former agronomy and crop science professor Doug Stockley said soybeans "are sensitive to 'photoperiodism,” and "artificial lighting can stand in for daylight to light-sensitive plants, which will not recognize nighttime if exposed to the artificial light even after the sun has set." He told Stella, “Soybeans depend on that cycle of night and day to determine when it’s appropriate to move from a vegetative state to a flowering and reproductive state. As the days decrease in length, the soybean plant senses that, and once it reaches a certain point, it says, ‘Hey, it’s time to switch over and do flowering.’” (Read more)
"While the state agency would encourage private property owners to value their historic resources, there are no laws prohibiting developers of private property from tearing down an old farmhouse or any other structure to make way for a warehouse or some other use," said Howard Pollman, spokesman for the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. Pollman told Cress, “Private property rights trump everything." (Read more)
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