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Organizing Co-op helps to pass CAFO moratorium

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The Dunn County Board last night passed a six month moratorium on CAFO expansion of more than 10% on farms of over 1000 animals in the county. This is in response to a very large expansion of Cranberry Creek Farm planned for the county, and was prompted by many questions raised about the ability of the farm owners to manage runoff, and some serious issues with the application and the ability of the DNR to properly consider the issues  in awarding a permit. The permit is for an expansion of up to 7150 animals.

This is a very unusual step, and was largely brought about through the joint efforts of the Citizen Action Western Wisconsin Organizing Co-op and a very large number of concerned farm neighbors.  I want to be clear that this is not by any means an anti-farming measure, but is an attempt to pull these large CAFO expansions to a halt in the county until such time that more effective regulation can be put into place. 

I hope to have more detail on the wording of the moratorium, etc. later, but for the time being I'd like to ask that people in the western part of the state consider joining the Western Wisconsin Organizing Co-op - this has just been one of the most recent effective actions that the co-op has helped to organize. If you want more details or want to commit to being a member go to the Citizen Action web site at http://www.citizenactionwi.org/contribution_optionsec

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CAFO petition in Dunn County

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The Citizen Action Western Wisconsin Organizing Co-op is continuing to fight the new CAFO in Dunn County. If you want to help to stop large dairy operations with uncertain controls over their pollution, please sign the petition against the CAFO expansion.

Also, if you would like to support political organizing in Western Wisconsin, and become a part of actions such as this, please consider signing up to become a member of the Co-op. They have been effective already on several fronts, including promoting fair living wages, environmental issues such as this, and fighting against Payday Lending - they could use your support, both financially by becoming a member, and by volunteering to help out.

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Good News on the Wisconsin CAFO Front

There has been good news for those organizing for responsibility on the part of large animal feeding operations (CAFOs.) The conference in early April was a terrific success with good attendance from the concerned as well as ag industry. From this lift there is a new blog on the block Wisconsin_CAFO_Watch that will help organizers network and get news out to state and national environmentalists. Watch some video there from the April Conference.

And perhaps most importantly the DATCP Siting Review Board last Friday reversed the decision of the Crawford County Land and Water Board to give a siting permit to a hog confinement facility expansion planned near the Wisconsin River. The issue was decided because the plan for where the manure would go was not adequate to protect water resources. A press release that was prepared by Midwest Environmental Advocates is below the fold.

While all those pressing for responsible agriculture need to take a moment for a pat on the back, this is just one step on a very long campaign. Keep your eye on that new blog for future developments.

[Press Release from Jamie Saul, Midwest Environmental Advocates]

Madison, WI -- In a decision that bodes well for clean water, the Wisconsin Livestock Facility Siting Review Board voted on Friday to reverse Crawford County’s decision to allow the expansion of a hog confinement facility near the Kickapoo River in Wauzeka, WI. The Board reviewed the application for facility expansion prepared by Roth Feeder Pigs, Inc., found portions of it to be internally inconsistent, and expressed concerns with regard to the nutrient management data submitted by Roth. Local approval is required for such expansions in Crawford County under Wisconsin’s Livestock Facilities Siting Law and county ordinance.

A challenge to the County’s decision to issue a license to the Roth facility had been brought by Midwest Environmental Advocates on behalf of twenty-eight affected neighbors who live or own land within two miles of the facility. The challenge asserted that portions of the application submitted by Roth did not meet the state standards for nutrient management, which put local drinking water and the Kickapoo watershed at risk for nitrate, phosphorous, and bacteria contamination. Mr. Ron Stadler, a landowner near the Roth facility, brought a separate challenge on similar grounds.

“The Board rightly found this facility’s plan to pollute unacceptable,” said Jamie Saul, Staff Attorney with Midwest Environmental Advocates. “It was clear from the start that this facility’s application did not meet the standards for nutrient management required by state law.” Proper nutrient management planning is essential to protect land and water from over-application of livestock manure.

“We are pleased that the Board took an in-depth look at the application and made the right decision,” said Bob Lenz, one of the twenty-eight neighbors who were named in the challenge. Concerned neighbors and members of the Crawford Stewardship Project (CSP) worked hard gathering information and presenting compelling testimony on the environmental and public health risks associated with this hog facility to the Crawford County Land Conservation Committee, who nonetheless voted to approve the expansion in January.

“The Crawford Stewardship Project is very pleased that the Board took its role seriously, looked at the record objectively, and by reversing the County’s decision took a stance to protect our air and water as required by law,” stated Jennifer Nelson of the CSP.

While the decision of the Board is binding on Crawford County, nothing prevents Roth from re-applying for local approval under the Livestock Siting Law. The County itself has the option of appealing the Board’s decision to circuit court. In addition, Roth must acquire a wastewater discharge permit from the Department of Natural Resources, which is mandatory for all livestock operations that house 1,000 animal units or more on site.

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Submitted by borges on

DNR Caves Again

[press release from Midwest Environmental Advocates

via WisPolitics]

Once again, factory farms get a pass from a major environmental law 2/27/2008

If you live downwind from a mega-farm, don't put away those gas masks just yet.

The Natural Resources Board voted today to approve a Department of Natural Resources (DNR) rule that grants "sources of hazardous air pollution associated with agricultural waste" (read: manure) yet another exemption from state requirements concerning toxic air emissions. Now, these sources of pollution won't have to meet state requirements until July 31, 2011.

In 2004, when the DNR made changes to its regulations concerning hazardous air pollution, agricultural sources were given an initial three-year exemption, ostensibly to conduct research and gather information so that regulation could proceed responsibly. That exemption expired in June of 2007. During that three-year period, the DNR commenced one small study that is still not complete, and the corporate agricultural industry sat on its hands and did nothing other than hire lobbyists who could bring home yet another lengthy exemption from environmental standards.

"Today's decision is a huge disappointment for those concerned about breathing clean, healthy air in Wisconsin," said Jamie Saul, Staff Attorney with Midwest Environmental Advocates. "The simple technology that exists now for controlling toxic emissions from mega-farms is being used in other states, and the DNR's additional four-year delay is a blow to rural communities."

Manure, when concentrated and stored in massive quantities, has the potential to release dangerous amounts of ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, and particulate matter. While these toxic gasses are most dangerous to those working in close proximity to the stored manure, studies show that they can also pose a health threat to those who live downwind of the facility.

No other industry has earned an exemption from these much-needed state requirements. And though it is true that agricultural waste is challenging to regulate because of its diffuse nature (contrasted with a typical factory smokestack), state regulations allow for a flexible system of Best Management Practices to reduce these emissions from agricultural sources. And what's more, the emission levels triggering state regulation are so high that only the very largest livestock operations would be covered by the rule.

Still, this flexibility and initial delay weren't enough for the DNR and corporate agriculture, who complained that regulation would be too burdensome and scientifically unfounded. But while state and federal studies continue, and may yield valuable information, other states such as Iowa, Colorado, and North Carolina have already taken steps to reduce toxic emissions from agricultural sources, leaving Wisconsin in the (manure-laden) dust.

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Submitted by borges on

Vernon County CAFO Moratorium Defeated

Since Borges is out on vacation, I thought I'd bring up the fact that the 2400 head Vernon County CAFO operation that she blogged about recently is probably going in . The Vernon County Board has voted to not support a moratorium on CAFO operations. More details when we have some.

Update -

There's now an article in the Vernon County Broadcaster .  Although there will be no moratorium on large animal operations --

The board did, however, approve two measures to address farm growth and
land planning. On a pair of 15-14 votes, the board approved an animal
siting ordinance limiting animal units and approved a measure to begin
comprehensive planning.

The animal siting ordinance deals with
farms with more than 500 animal units. That ordinance only gives the
county oversight on the location of such an operation and is basically
a permitting system. The ordinance is very similar to state legislation
formulated for counties.

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