DBA stands by farms, challenges CAFO rules
Tuesday, May 3, 2022
(0 Comments)
by Tim Trotter, chief executive officer  Concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) are once again in the crosshairs. More frustrating and overreaching rules are threatening Wisconsin livestock farms in northwestern Wisconsin.
A previous attempt to overregulate these larger farms by county officials in recent years was deterred by a grassroots movement led by a coalition of ag groups, including DBA. The swift action stopped what could have been a dangerous precedent.
However, now the action has moved even more locally to the township level. Six towns in Burnett and Polk counties have either proposed or enacted ordinances that unjustly attack animal agriculture. Trade Lake in Burnett County and Laketown, Sterling,
Eureka, Luck and Bone Lake in Polk County have all at least proposed a similar ordinance that severely impedes new or expanding livestock farms.
Among the new restrictions, animal unit numbers would drop from 1,000 head to 700 on some ordinances to even as low as 500. One of the most outlandish rules would have livestock farms only operating during normal business hours.
After a careful review of our options, DBA — along with our sister organization, Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative, and two local farms — requested that the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) conduct a formal material review
of these ordinances to assess whether they are consistent with state law. (We’re awaiting a response as of this writing.)
These ordinances go far beyond current rules and regulations applicable to livestock operations. The towns’ attempt to regulate operational aspects of a farm makes abundantly clear why the towns have altogether evaded Wisconsin’s Livestock Facility Siting Law — because siting cases have proven the law does not allow for that.
At our first Farmer to Farmer Policy Picnic in Amery last month, members gathered to share their first-hand perspectives on these ordinances with our team. It was disappointing to hear how farmers feel as if there is a constant target on their back, yet
inspiring to see how this community has come together with a common goal at hand — to stand up for farmers.
Farmers are part of their communities, too. They want to be good neighbors and stewards of the land and water. They want to keep their communities strong and vibrant places to live. Local officials should work alongside farmers to create common goals,
as is being done with several watershed-specific groups around the state. Targeting farm families only creates division.
Animal agriculture has changed over the past few generations. Farms are growing not just in size but in their sophistication of practices. They support multiple families, not just one. They offer benefits to employees, including time off and more flexible
schedules. They can adopt new technologies faster, saving time and resources. They allow for more specialized employees, allowing for higher pay.
Agriculture is the backbone of our rural economies, employing much more than just those on-farm. It employs veterinarians, nutritionists, cheesemakers, truck drivers, equipment dealers and so many more. Any dollar a farmer makes is turned around again
and again within the community.
These ordinances are a stark reminder of how distanced some of our elected officials can be from production agriculture. It remains critically important for our members to remain engaged with officials on a state, county and local level. Share your story.
The DBA team received valuable feedback from members and — as we tackle the immediate issues head-on now — is working to develop a more proactive approach to these situations. Unfortunately, these issues are unlikely to go away.
Standing up for farmers, and for sensible approaches to regulations, is as critically important as ever before. DBA will do so — every time.
|
Print Page
Email to a Friend
