WI group pushes back after controversial CAFO expansion OK'd

Judith Ruiz-Branch

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has approved a permit to expand Ridge Breeze Dairy in Salem despite hundreds of local objections.

The concentrated animal feeding operation would grow from 1,700 cows to 6,500 or four times its current size, making it the largest such facility in western Wisconsin. The approval starts a 60-day timer to contest the decision.

Danny Akenson, field organizer for the group Grassroots Organizing Western Wisconsin, said it has been on a mission to get more local operations ordinances passed to better regulate the industry.

"There are people in Pierce County whose lives could be put in harm's way because of this," Akenson contended. "Those people should have their voices heard and taken seriously, and we'll be both exploring options to make sure that's the case and continuing to push for local ordinances that will protect our homes."

Ridge Breeze's expansion plans include storing, hauling and spreading 80 million gallons of waste in Pierce, Pepin and Saint Croix counties. Akenson pointed out the operations ordinances, which have already been passed in some towns and counties, include requirements for such things as addressing damage to roads by large manure tankers.

The number of large-scale operations in the state has risen every year since 2005. Currently, there are more than 340 across the state and 90% of them are dairy operations. Grassroots organizers argued many aspects of their operations are unregulated or under-regulated, including air pollution, infectious disease, carcass removal and biosecurity plans.

Akenson noted regulations from the DNR primarily cover the effects of livestock waste on water and do not have a limit on how large they can be.

"What the operations ordinance essentially is, is a series of plans that is asking the CAFO to supply how they're going to address these concerns that are among residents," Akenson outlined. "It's not a ban on CAFOs. It's a message that said, 'Yes you can come into our community, but you have to show us your homework.'"

Akenson added the state has not seen any meaningful regulatory changes for concentrated animal feeding operations for about 20 years. Proponents said they are good for business and are an economic necessity to keep operating costs down and prices for milk, cheese and meat products affordable.