Uranium mining concerns Dan River Region farmers

Local farmers worry a nearby uranium site could hurt the marketability of their products.

More than three dozen farmers, mostly from the Dan River Region, asked the National Academy of Sciences to include impacts to agriculture in its report on uranium mining in Virginia due in December.

The farmers, along with five water and environmental groups, submitted joint comments to the study panel, asking that its report include risks of possible contamination to the food chain from uranium mining and milling in Virginia.

Farmers fear customers’ perception of risks to food products could hurt demand and their bottom lines. Agriculture is Virginia’s largest industry with an economic impact of $55 billion annually.

Reputation is everything for Our Father’s Farm in Gretna, said owner Jacques “Jack” Fuhrmann. The farm’s selling point is offering all-natural beef, poultry, eggs and seasonal produce without using chemicals.

Most customers are in Lynchburg, Roanoke and Smith Mountain Lake. Sales are direct, so customers know where the food is coming from.

The uranium industry’s track record in the United States doesn’t help alleviate concerns, he said.

Fuhrmann, who moved to the area to farm more than three years ago, has friends both for and against proposed uranium mining in Pittsylvania County. He’s not an environmental activist, but also doesn’t believe uranium mining won’t have any adverse impacts.

“If I had been conscious and had known what was going on, I would not have bought the farm I’m in right now,” Fuhrmann said.

If farmers in Halifax County lose business, so does Abbott Farm Suppliers Inc., said owner Bill Abbott. He’s not sure about taking risks with a local major industry.

“If it has any impact on the farming economy, it would be disastrous for us,” Abbott said.

While he said perception matters, he doesn’t know if uranium mining would have an actual negative impact. He would like to see what the uranium studies say.

He also keeps a small farm where he lives on the Banister River.

If Virginia Uranium Inc. could keep contaminants on the property, Abbott said it could be fine, but he doesn’t know if that’s possible.

“Can they guarantee it? Will the studies show that?” Abbott said.

Patrick Wales, VUI project manager, said the company understands everyone’s concerns, adding the company founders are longtime farmers and the property is still a working cattle farm.

Wales added that agriculture is still a mainstay in the Limousin region of France, where uranium mining took place.

“There are examples from around the world where uranium mining and agriculture can not only co-exist, they can thrive,” Wales said.