MEDIA ALERT
What: DNR Decision Regarding Cranberry Creek CAFO Expansion
Contact: Jeff Smith, Citizen Action Organizing Cooperative-Western Wisconsin (715) 579-9811 [email protected]
The DNR rejected Cranberry Creek Dairy’s second nutrient management plan (NMP) application on May 3rd because the revised NMP did not support the proposed expansion to 6,794 animal units (5,500 cows and 1,250 calves). The submitted NMP had a number of irregularities that contributed to the DNR’s rejection: landowners listed as receiving manure who had contacted the DNR requesting removal from the NMP, farm fields listed as receiving manure with no signed lease agreements, and lease agreements that did not include all owners of the land slated to receive manure.
The Cranberry Creek CAFO, currently owned by the Radle family, is located in Dunn County and there is speculation that Grassland Dairy is poised to buy Cranberry Creek if the expansion permit is approved. Cranberry Creek will produce over 51 million gallons of manure annually and in order to have the roughly 4,800 acres of land necessary to satisfy the NMP criteria, the CAFO operator must secure rental land in the area to dispose of the manure.
Some property owners are uncomfortable with the prospect of renting farm land for manure spreading to a large corporation like Grassland, as opposed to a local family farmer like the Radle’s. Jeff Smith, organizer for Citizen Action Organizing Cooperative- Western Wisconsin, sees this as a potential opportunity for citizens in the region to gain control of the situation, “We are particularly impressed with, and grateful for, the property owners who have stood steadfast against allowing the excessive spreading on their lands. This is how neighbors stand together to protect the public trust and resources we all rely on.”
Cranberry Creek’s first NMP was rejected in late 2016 due to the same irregularities that prompted the May 3rd rejection. The Dunn County News reported on September 25th that “A number of nearby landowners told DNR representative Leah Nicol that they were surprised -- and not just a little outraged -- to see their names and parcels listed in the NMP for the spreading of manure from the Cranberry Creek operation.” The two public hearings held in response to Cranberry Creek’s expansion were well-attended and saw comments from a wide array of community members. Smith sees a relationship between citizen input and the DNR’s regulatory action, “It’s worth pointing out that the hundreds of citizens who provided oral and written testimony during the two public input periods had an impact; it’s refreshing to feel our input was heard and respected by the DNR.”
Memberships
Cranberry Creek CAFO Hearing
A hearing was held today about the re-issuance of the WPDES permit for Cranberry Creek Farm. Cranberry Creek is asking to expand from approximately 2000 cows to over 7000. May testified at the hearing today, raising various issues with the state of the permit application, while also questioning the wisdom of a farm fo that scale in an area that is already suffering from groundwater degradation.
This is the second application that has been filed for the farm. The first was contentious because it seemed in many areas to be incomplete or inaccurate, including listing other properties for manure spreading for which no agreement had been made.
We went out and videotaped the testimony today - it is long, but you will find that many of the people testifying were well prepared and convincing.
Organizing Co-op helps to pass CAFO moratorium
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
Steve is a member of LION Publishers , the Wisconsin Newspaper Association, the Menomonie Area Chamber of Commerce, the Online News Association, and the Local Media Consortium, and is active in Health Dunn Right.
He has been a computer guy most of his life but has published a political blog, a discussion website, and now Eye On Dunn County.
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