Dear Editor,

Prologis says they “appreciate the agricultural community.” Does the world’s largest builder of data centers really understand Leesburg, Indiana? Do they really understand our agricultural industry? It is based in San Francisco, California. That is just not out-of-state; that is another country. Prologis does understand the resources they need, where they are and how convenient it is to build on flat ground.

Why is this farmland so valuable? Did you know that Warren Buffett purchased his first farm before high school? And Bill Gates owns over 242,000 tillable acres. They both recognize farmland as a very good investment. In the last 20 years, Kosciusko County averaged a 9.3% return on investment. That is a solid, long-term return on an investment.

In the last five years, Acretrader.com says our county was ranked fourth in production, with commodity sales of $298,032,000. Our state is a top producer of popcorn, ducks, tomatoes and spearmint. Farmland provides a diversity of food products.

So, if all of that is true, farmland in Indiana is doing really well. What is the problem with one, 554 acres that is taken out of production?

Besides the irreplaceable loss of 554 acres, spot zoning has a domino effect.

Prologis needs to reduce its carbon footprint. How is that accomplished? More ag land will need to be rezoned heavy industrial for solar power and battery storage, and maybe more room will be needed to include SMRs (small modular reactors). One acre after another will fall, until farmland has been taken over by industrial. Once it starts, it doesn’t end.

If the commissioners override the Area Plan Commission’s decision, and Prologis moves in, a blue print for more data centers will be set. Valuable, sustainable farmland should not be made into Silicon Valley. That’s in the other world — the world of California, not Kosciusko County, Indiana.

Land is very valuable. China recognizes that. How many acres do they own in the United States? I hope our county officials recognize the value as much as China.

The Area Plan Commission voted against spot zoning Industrial 3 in the middle of farmland. The issue is still not resolved. It goes to the commissioners on April 22 for their decision.

Contact our commissioners and ask them to support the Area Plan Commission’s vote. Find another location and don’t do this to farmland.

Theresa M. Shearer