DBA, Edge dairy groups push back on anti-CAFO resolution in Polk County

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Nov. 9, 2020

Contact: Jamie Mara
(920) 209-3990 | jmara@dairyforward.com

DBA, Edge dairy groups push back
on anti-CAFO resolution in Polk County
Other groups join in urging officials to work alongside farmers

GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Dairy Business Association and Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative are telling Polk County officials there is a more effective way to address concerns about larger livestock farms than piling on regulations or banning the farms all together.

Polk County’s Health and Human Services Committee on Tuesday is scheduled to consider a resolution that deals with potential new regulations on so-called CAFOs, farms with at least 1,000 animal units. A farm can pass that threshold with 600-700 cows, especially if raising heifers and calves.

“There is a better path forward than the one outlined by the proposed resolution,” DBA and Edge, joined by five other agricultural groups, wrote on Friday in a letter to members of the Polk County Board of Supervisors.

“Farmers want to be good neighbors. In Wisconsin, it is very likely that a CAFO owner lives in the same community as the farm. Indeed, most of them are owned by families that have been in the area for generations. These farms and families are not the enemy. Instead, it makes more sense for the county to work with its farms on shared goals,” the groups wrote.

The other organizations joining in the letter were Polk County Farm Bureau, Wisconsin Association of Professional Agricultural Consultants, Wisconsin Cattlemen’s Association, Wisconsin Corn Growers Association and Wisconsin Pork Association.

The county resolution does not spell out the end goal, but it comes on the heels of an attempt by some in Polk County government to ban certain types of larger farms.

The ag groups pointed out that in nearby St. Croix County, a workgroup was formed of farmers, government officials and other private residents to identify environmental improvement areas. The groups also said that elsewhere around the state, governments are partnering with local farmers to work on watershed-specific projects. That collaborative approach is having measurable positive effects on soil health and water quality.

“Passing an antagonistic resolution will not help. If anything, it could dissuade farmers from engaging with the county,” the letter states. “We hope Polk County will decide to move forward together with its farmers for the good of everyone concerned.”

Documents:

Polk County resolution

Farm groups’ letter

Meeting information:

Join the committee meeting online at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10

Tweet about this:

@DairyForward and @VoiceOfMilk push back against anti-CAFO resolution in Polk County, urge collaboration with #farmers https://bit.ly/36zTbxF

About DBA:

The Dairy Business Association is Wisconsin’s leading dairy lobby group, championing smart and sensible regulations affecting the dairy community. The nonprofit organization is comprised of farmers, milk processors, vendors and other business partners who work collaboratively to ensure that dairy farms of all sizes have the support they need to keep America’s Dairyland strong. More information: www.dairyforward.com

About Edge:

Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative provides dairy farmers throughout the Midwest with a powerful voice — the voice of milk — in Congress, with customers and within their communities. Edge, based in Green Bay, Wis., is one of the top cooperatives in the country based on milk volume. More information: www.voiceofmilk.com.

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