MONROE - In a meeting Thursday, Green County Conservationist Todd Jenson pointed to discrepancies in materials submitted by proposed concentrated animal feeding operation Pinnacle Dairy, set to be constructed on 127 acres of farmland along County FF and Decatur-Sylvester Road in the Township of Sylvester.
Out of 31 submitted agreements between local farms and Pinnacle Dairy LLC, 17 needed "minor tweaks" due to missing details and incomplete information, Jenson said. The contracts outline where and how much manure will be spread over farmland. Jenson also requested adjustments on the nutrient management plan and manure storage plans.
David Crass, an agribusiness partner with the Milwaukee-based law firm Michael Best who represents Pinnacle Dairy, said he is confident they will be able to "respond well to all requests."
Attendees, lined elbow-to-elbow, spilled out the door and into the hallway of the USDA Service Center to hear new information about the CAFO. Its permit was approved by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources in January, leaving Green County officials as one of the final hurdles in the application process. In total, more than 40 people crammed into the small meeting room. Over 15 sat in chairs or stood outside, leaning inches from the door.
Drinking water pollution is a main criticism of those against the construction and operation of Pinnacle Dairy. Namely, the fact that once a permit is approved, CAFOs largely self-monitor their operations in place of DNR officials. Jen Riemer, Pinnacle's would-be neighbor who approached Sylvester Township in order to pass a new livestock citing ordinance at the local level and succeeded, has noted that other counties in Wisconsin have been adversely affected by CAFOs.
"This has happened; this is not an irrational fear," Riemer said. "Wells around large operations have been contaminated and that onus typically falls on the homeowners."
Riemer served on a science committee for Sylvester, which found Green County soil has a high rate of susceptibility to pollution because of permeable ground conditions below top soil.
Jacob Brunner, a lifelong resident of Green County who lives near the proposed site, expressed worry over his own well. He urged committee members to evaluate the plans further and complete all studies before final approval.
"I love this county, and I don't like large operations such as this coming in and just taking over," Brunner said. "All of you who've done conventional dairy farming have built this county into what it is today. I know you're proud of it, and I'm proud of it, and I'd like it to continue."
State representatives plan to conduct an Environmental Protection Agency review of Green County relating to the proposed dairy farm after Jenson accepts the offer. Jenson said he was uncertain as to the extent of the review. State Representative Mark Spreitzer emailed Jenson to ask if one should be conducted, and when Jenson agreed, Spreitzer said he would send the request to the office of U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin. Spreitzer indicated the review would be based heavily on state law, but Jenson had no further details.
Crass said insurance required for the large facility would include third-party coverage. He added that Pinnacle Dairy LLC has plans to offer to monitor wells for homeowners. Crass said the option of the Tuls' corporation covering the cost of wells if they do become contaminated could also be considered.
Todd Tuls is the current owner of Rock Prairie Farm outside of Janesville. It is operated by his son T.J. Tuls with the help of his nephew Parker Tuls. Parker would operate Pinnacle Dairy once complete. T.J. and Parker were both present for the meeting. T.J. said the intention is to work beside the county as a way to ensure all environmental protections are taken.
"Being a bigger farm and having neighbors in the community, people are watching us," T.J. said. "I encourage more oversight. We do a good job, and we take pride in the communities we have our farms in. We're neighbors to those communities."
Crass added that Rock Prairie has been in operation for five years with no incidents, though County Supervisor Jeff Williams questioned whether Rock and Green counties had comparable ground conditions. Fellow board member Betty Grotophorst said she has received daily calls from constituents scared of what the addition of Pinnacle Dairy might mean for their quality of life.
Out of 31 submitted agreements between local farms and Pinnacle Dairy LLC, 17 needed "minor tweaks" due to missing details and incomplete information, Jenson said. The contracts outline where and how much manure will be spread over farmland. Jenson also requested adjustments on the nutrient management plan and manure storage plans.
David Crass, an agribusiness partner with the Milwaukee-based law firm Michael Best who represents Pinnacle Dairy, said he is confident they will be able to "respond well to all requests."
Attendees, lined elbow-to-elbow, spilled out the door and into the hallway of the USDA Service Center to hear new information about the CAFO. Its permit was approved by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources in January, leaving Green County officials as one of the final hurdles in the application process. In total, more than 40 people crammed into the small meeting room. Over 15 sat in chairs or stood outside, leaning inches from the door.
Drinking water pollution is a main criticism of those against the construction and operation of Pinnacle Dairy. Namely, the fact that once a permit is approved, CAFOs largely self-monitor their operations in place of DNR officials. Jen Riemer, Pinnacle's would-be neighbor who approached Sylvester Township in order to pass a new livestock citing ordinance at the local level and succeeded, has noted that other counties in Wisconsin have been adversely affected by CAFOs.
"This has happened; this is not an irrational fear," Riemer said. "Wells around large operations have been contaminated and that onus typically falls on the homeowners."
Riemer served on a science committee for Sylvester, which found Green County soil has a high rate of susceptibility to pollution because of permeable ground conditions below top soil.
Jacob Brunner, a lifelong resident of Green County who lives near the proposed site, expressed worry over his own well. He urged committee members to evaluate the plans further and complete all studies before final approval.
"I love this county, and I don't like large operations such as this coming in and just taking over," Brunner said. "All of you who've done conventional dairy farming have built this county into what it is today. I know you're proud of it, and I'm proud of it, and I'd like it to continue."
State representatives plan to conduct an Environmental Protection Agency review of Green County relating to the proposed dairy farm after Jenson accepts the offer. Jenson said he was uncertain as to the extent of the review. State Representative Mark Spreitzer emailed Jenson to ask if one should be conducted, and when Jenson agreed, Spreitzer said he would send the request to the office of U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin. Spreitzer indicated the review would be based heavily on state law, but Jenson had no further details.
Crass said insurance required for the large facility would include third-party coverage. He added that Pinnacle Dairy LLC has plans to offer to monitor wells for homeowners. Crass said the option of the Tuls' corporation covering the cost of wells if they do become contaminated could also be considered.
Todd Tuls is the current owner of Rock Prairie Farm outside of Janesville. It is operated by his son T.J. Tuls with the help of his nephew Parker Tuls. Parker would operate Pinnacle Dairy once complete. T.J. and Parker were both present for the meeting. T.J. said the intention is to work beside the county as a way to ensure all environmental protections are taken.
"Being a bigger farm and having neighbors in the community, people are watching us," T.J. said. "I encourage more oversight. We do a good job, and we take pride in the communities we have our farms in. We're neighbors to those communities."
Crass added that Rock Prairie has been in operation for five years with no incidents, though County Supervisor Jeff Williams questioned whether Rock and Green counties had comparable ground conditions. Fellow board member Betty Grotophorst said she has received daily calls from constituents scared of what the addition of Pinnacle Dairy might mean for their quality of life.