MONROE - Residents of Clarno and Cadiz have stepped forward to ask their local government to consider new ordinances that would better regulate the introduction of large dairy facilities in their townships.
Their requests were prompted by a proposal by Todd Tuls, the owner of the 5,000-cow Rock Prairie Dairy in Janesville. Tuls has been trying to secure land in the Town of Decatur and Town of Sylvester along Decatur-Sylvester Road and County FF to construct another dairy farm of the same size.
But his plan has met with oppostion from some Sylvester residents. Those opposed to the large-scale dairy were able to get a short-term moratorium, from Sept. 24 to Jan. 18, to further study the potential impact the farm could have on the environment, particularly the groundwater.
Sylvester's actions set off more response throughout the area; moratorium ordinances are being considered in York, Decatur and Mount Pleasant as well.
Opponents of the large dairy see the amount of manure to be spread over what could be a 20-mile radius as hazardous for public health, citing soil permeability as a large problem.
Those proposing similar ordinances in Clarno and Cadiz claim the area included in Tuls' submitted map of soil tests could be affected in a variety of ways, from water to air quality. This land includes both sides of the Cheese County Trail.
Kriss Marion, president of the Wisconsin Farmers Union chapter which includes Green, Rock and Lafayette counties, was one of the roughly two dozen present for both general meetings in Clarno and Cadiz on Nov. 18. Marion said the atmosphere allowed for productive conversation, and that boards for both townships seemed open to listening. Marion attended to ask that local governing bodies slow the introduction of Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations, large-scale farms, until further studies can be conducted regarding the groundwater and soil elements.
"This is an elephant in the room wherever you go," Marion said. "Neighbors are talking. All of this discussion over the proposed farm has really been wonderful.
"If we don't want to become Kewaunee County, we have to get creative now."
CAFOs opponents frequently point to Kewaunee County, where a judge ruled the state Department of Natural Resources had not properly overseen the development of 16 large-scale dairy farms. The decision cited a correlation between the CAFOs and chronically ill residents sick from contaminated well water. Claims have also been made against the operations for high levels of pollution in trout streams and lakes, though no evidence blamed the dairy organizations solely.
Marion said Clarno and Cadiz residents put forth four main ordinance proposals. Citizens of the townships asked for a six-month moratorium on CAFO permits to study environmental impact, requested a ban on center-pivot spraying of manure, looked to regulate manure pipelines running within the range of public roads in order to protect residents from spills and leaks, and for citizens of the townships to be able to see siting and water permits for projects submitted to the county involving 500 or more confined animals.
Tuls attended a meeting in Sylvester at the end of September, supporting his business by pointing to others as inexperienced. Tuls owns other large-scale dairy operations throughout a number of states, including a 10,000-cow dairy in Nebraska. Local farmers present argued against far overreach by people who wanted to examine well water contamination. A few argued that an average household pours just as many contaminants down their drain annually as what can get into the groundwater through spreading manure on fields.
Sylvester was able to halt immediate construction of the facility by asking for time to study how the introduction of a farm in which 5,800 cows held in a confined area and the manure they produce could have a negative affect on local land. Currently, the Sylvester Township has a board to gather evidence, which will be decided on in January. If the town board finds sufficient reason to pose a health concern and that the evidence is viable, the local government is given more power to regulate incoming projects such as Pinnacle Dairy.
Clarno Town Chair Nathan Hartwig heard presentations from a few of the 18 people present at the general meeting last Wednesday.The matter was handed over to the township's Smart Growth Committee to examine further. The issue should be further examined and possibly acted upon at the board's next general meeting in mid-December. Hartwig said he was glad to see local residents becoming involved in a matter which could affect their health.
"It's all right, we all have to be careful of the groundwater," Hartwig said. "We know we've got a little work to do. We've got to get something going."
Hartwig said there should be measures in place to ensure the public is safe. He said farming is much different than it has been in previous decades, and that farms use "a lot of manure and a lot of water." His main focus was to create an ordinance to oversee the safest methods in which to spread manure. The way in which livestock waste is applied to cropland can have harmful affects on the groundwater.
Nadine Whiteman, a retired Monroe science teacher of 34 years, is a Clarno resident who spoke at her township's meeting. She said she loves the area and the people too much not to share research she has uncovered regarding large-scale dairy operations and the quality of local soil.
"I've always been a strong supporter of farmers," Whiteman said. "I just asked that we take the opportunity to see some of the measures we can put in place to protect our small farms."
Whiteman was particularly interested in the lack of laws set up to protect public health and saw the need for more people to speak up in order to avoid not only the contamination of local groundwater, but the negative impact a CAFO could have on local farmers' daily business as well. She said everyone should be certain in their knowledge of the science of the area. And most importantly, everyone should have open minds for the best possible outcome.
"I felt (board members) were listening," Whiteman said. "I felt they were engaged. As difficult as these things are, we need to work together."
Their requests were prompted by a proposal by Todd Tuls, the owner of the 5,000-cow Rock Prairie Dairy in Janesville. Tuls has been trying to secure land in the Town of Decatur and Town of Sylvester along Decatur-Sylvester Road and County FF to construct another dairy farm of the same size.
But his plan has met with oppostion from some Sylvester residents. Those opposed to the large-scale dairy were able to get a short-term moratorium, from Sept. 24 to Jan. 18, to further study the potential impact the farm could have on the environment, particularly the groundwater.
Sylvester's actions set off more response throughout the area; moratorium ordinances are being considered in York, Decatur and Mount Pleasant as well.
Opponents of the large dairy see the amount of manure to be spread over what could be a 20-mile radius as hazardous for public health, citing soil permeability as a large problem.
Those proposing similar ordinances in Clarno and Cadiz claim the area included in Tuls' submitted map of soil tests could be affected in a variety of ways, from water to air quality. This land includes both sides of the Cheese County Trail.
Kriss Marion, president of the Wisconsin Farmers Union chapter which includes Green, Rock and Lafayette counties, was one of the roughly two dozen present for both general meetings in Clarno and Cadiz on Nov. 18. Marion said the atmosphere allowed for productive conversation, and that boards for both townships seemed open to listening. Marion attended to ask that local governing bodies slow the introduction of Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations, large-scale farms, until further studies can be conducted regarding the groundwater and soil elements.
"This is an elephant in the room wherever you go," Marion said. "Neighbors are talking. All of this discussion over the proposed farm has really been wonderful.
"If we don't want to become Kewaunee County, we have to get creative now."
CAFOs opponents frequently point to Kewaunee County, where a judge ruled the state Department of Natural Resources had not properly overseen the development of 16 large-scale dairy farms. The decision cited a correlation between the CAFOs and chronically ill residents sick from contaminated well water. Claims have also been made against the operations for high levels of pollution in trout streams and lakes, though no evidence blamed the dairy organizations solely.
Marion said Clarno and Cadiz residents put forth four main ordinance proposals. Citizens of the townships asked for a six-month moratorium on CAFO permits to study environmental impact, requested a ban on center-pivot spraying of manure, looked to regulate manure pipelines running within the range of public roads in order to protect residents from spills and leaks, and for citizens of the townships to be able to see siting and water permits for projects submitted to the county involving 500 or more confined animals.
Tuls attended a meeting in Sylvester at the end of September, supporting his business by pointing to others as inexperienced. Tuls owns other large-scale dairy operations throughout a number of states, including a 10,000-cow dairy in Nebraska. Local farmers present argued against far overreach by people who wanted to examine well water contamination. A few argued that an average household pours just as many contaminants down their drain annually as what can get into the groundwater through spreading manure on fields.
Sylvester was able to halt immediate construction of the facility by asking for time to study how the introduction of a farm in which 5,800 cows held in a confined area and the manure they produce could have a negative affect on local land. Currently, the Sylvester Township has a board to gather evidence, which will be decided on in January. If the town board finds sufficient reason to pose a health concern and that the evidence is viable, the local government is given more power to regulate incoming projects such as Pinnacle Dairy.
Clarno Town Chair Nathan Hartwig heard presentations from a few of the 18 people present at the general meeting last Wednesday.The matter was handed over to the township's Smart Growth Committee to examine further. The issue should be further examined and possibly acted upon at the board's next general meeting in mid-December. Hartwig said he was glad to see local residents becoming involved in a matter which could affect their health.
"It's all right, we all have to be careful of the groundwater," Hartwig said. "We know we've got a little work to do. We've got to get something going."
Hartwig said there should be measures in place to ensure the public is safe. He said farming is much different than it has been in previous decades, and that farms use "a lot of manure and a lot of water." His main focus was to create an ordinance to oversee the safest methods in which to spread manure. The way in which livestock waste is applied to cropland can have harmful affects on the groundwater.
Nadine Whiteman, a retired Monroe science teacher of 34 years, is a Clarno resident who spoke at her township's meeting. She said she loves the area and the people too much not to share research she has uncovered regarding large-scale dairy operations and the quality of local soil.
"I've always been a strong supporter of farmers," Whiteman said. "I just asked that we take the opportunity to see some of the measures we can put in place to protect our small farms."
Whiteman was particularly interested in the lack of laws set up to protect public health and saw the need for more people to speak up in order to avoid not only the contamination of local groundwater, but the negative impact a CAFO could have on local farmers' daily business as well. She said everyone should be certain in their knowledge of the science of the area. And most importantly, everyone should have open minds for the best possible outcome.
"I felt (board members) were listening," Whiteman said. "I felt they were engaged. As difficult as these things are, we need to work together."