CADIZ TOWNSHIP - In a move matching those in other local townships, the town of Cadiz approved an ordinance that allows for a delay in the addition of a large-dairy facility within the area.
Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations have been a focal point of attention since Todd Tuls, owner of Rock Prairie Dairy in Janesville and other large farms in a number of states throughout the country, proposed a 5,000-animal-unit dairy farm within the town of Sylvester along County FF and Decatur-Sylvester Road. The state defines a CAFO as a dairy operation with more than 1,000 animal units on the property.
Sylvester Township created an ordinance to allow for a moratorium to allow time to study the impact of a CAFO on the health of local residents.
Green County Defending Our Farmland is the organization which pushed for a moratorium ordinance to be put in place to give the township power to protect residents. Sylvester resident Jen Riemer set the effort in motion and now serves on the committee which has been tasked with finding evidence of potential negative effects from the addition of a 5,000-cow dairy farm. The Sylvester Township Board will make a decision based on the committee's findings in January.
Cadiz and Clarno have both adopted ordinances to slow down the application process to give time for a committee to evaluate the potential effects of a CAFO on township land. The ordinance for Cadiz outlines a 12-month moratorium with the possibility of a 12-month extension. Board members agreed Wednesday on a 3-0 vote to approve the measure, which would apply to new applications in the township with more than 1,500 animal units proposed for the farm.
A crowd of about 20 gathered to hear what the town board had to say Wednesday night. Kriss Marion, president of the Wisconsin Farmers Union chapter which includes Green, Rock and Lafayette counties, outlined reasons opponents are against CAFOs, and said that if Tuls couldn't build in Sylvester, Cadiz could be next.
"It puts you guys next in line if it doesn't work out in (Sylvester)," Marion said. "There are lots of people coming in looking for clean water and little regulation."
Local farmer Mark Peterson said expansion has been an inevitability and laws like the proposed moratorium have the chance to deny farmers already on the land the chance to expand without heavy regulation. Argument during the meeting centered around the definition of vested interest. Board member Bud Struntz, also a local farmer, said there are two sides to limitations but called into question a high amount of regulation.
Residents pointed to trust as a key difference between local farmers and big dairy operators. Cadiz resident Lance Fredricks said local farmers have livelihood to lose, while those who come in and contaminate water with operations could just leave once the land no longer becomes valuable to them.
"Any large operation really needs to be taken a look at," Fredricks said. "Once you pollute, then you're pretty much screwed."
Another resident and farmer in the area, Kim Hunter, asked the board to consider instating a better system of reporting. She said if it weren't for her friendship with Riemer, locals would have never heard about the developing issue and called for more transparency with incoming projects.
Town Board Chairman Ken Goodman was in favor of taking time to look over outside sources making their place on local land without a say from the township and proper study into what the presence of CAFOs would do to Cadiz.
"You can't sit back and let this happen," Goodman said. "You've gotta draw a line in the sand, and it better be a good one."
Goodman added he wants to ensure local farmers are not hampered by unnecessary regulation. He volunteered to be one of the seven on the moratorium committee yet to be appointed.
The board agreed to post public notices for Cadiz Township residents, asking for volunteers before making a final decision during its
Jan. 20 meeting.
Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations have been a focal point of attention since Todd Tuls, owner of Rock Prairie Dairy in Janesville and other large farms in a number of states throughout the country, proposed a 5,000-animal-unit dairy farm within the town of Sylvester along County FF and Decatur-Sylvester Road. The state defines a CAFO as a dairy operation with more than 1,000 animal units on the property.
Sylvester Township created an ordinance to allow for a moratorium to allow time to study the impact of a CAFO on the health of local residents.
Green County Defending Our Farmland is the organization which pushed for a moratorium ordinance to be put in place to give the township power to protect residents. Sylvester resident Jen Riemer set the effort in motion and now serves on the committee which has been tasked with finding evidence of potential negative effects from the addition of a 5,000-cow dairy farm. The Sylvester Township Board will make a decision based on the committee's findings in January.
Cadiz and Clarno have both adopted ordinances to slow down the application process to give time for a committee to evaluate the potential effects of a CAFO on township land. The ordinance for Cadiz outlines a 12-month moratorium with the possibility of a 12-month extension. Board members agreed Wednesday on a 3-0 vote to approve the measure, which would apply to new applications in the township with more than 1,500 animal units proposed for the farm.
A crowd of about 20 gathered to hear what the town board had to say Wednesday night. Kriss Marion, president of the Wisconsin Farmers Union chapter which includes Green, Rock and Lafayette counties, outlined reasons opponents are against CAFOs, and said that if Tuls couldn't build in Sylvester, Cadiz could be next.
"It puts you guys next in line if it doesn't work out in (Sylvester)," Marion said. "There are lots of people coming in looking for clean water and little regulation."
Local farmer Mark Peterson said expansion has been an inevitability and laws like the proposed moratorium have the chance to deny farmers already on the land the chance to expand without heavy regulation. Argument during the meeting centered around the definition of vested interest. Board member Bud Struntz, also a local farmer, said there are two sides to limitations but called into question a high amount of regulation.
Residents pointed to trust as a key difference between local farmers and big dairy operators. Cadiz resident Lance Fredricks said local farmers have livelihood to lose, while those who come in and contaminate water with operations could just leave once the land no longer becomes valuable to them.
"Any large operation really needs to be taken a look at," Fredricks said. "Once you pollute, then you're pretty much screwed."
Another resident and farmer in the area, Kim Hunter, asked the board to consider instating a better system of reporting. She said if it weren't for her friendship with Riemer, locals would have never heard about the developing issue and called for more transparency with incoming projects.
Town Board Chairman Ken Goodman was in favor of taking time to look over outside sources making their place on local land without a say from the township and proper study into what the presence of CAFOs would do to Cadiz.
"You can't sit back and let this happen," Goodman said. "You've gotta draw a line in the sand, and it better be a good one."
Goodman added he wants to ensure local farmers are not hampered by unnecessary regulation. He volunteered to be one of the seven on the moratorium committee yet to be appointed.
The board agreed to post public notices for Cadiz Township residents, asking for volunteers before making a final decision during its
Jan. 20 meeting.