News

Wisconsin local government decides against additional farm regulations

An effort to place more restrictions on farms in Wisconsin has been voted down.

A CAFO study committee presented the Pierce County Town of Rock Elm Board with a proposed ordinance.  Erin Tomasik with the Dairy Business Association tells Brownfield that farmers paid attention and got involved in the conversation. “We’re super appreciative that the local officials in Rock Elm to took the time to listen to the farmers and get a really solid understanding of what modern agriculture looks like and ultimately, the town board listened to the farmers and decided against supporting the ordinance.”

Tomasek says the proposed farm operational ordinance was over 100 pages long and included additional costs. “A three-dollar per animal unit fee is associated with the ordinance. We know that there’s essentially a tax on manure for any permitted farms that may be spreading in a town that has adopted this and we know it has requirements of third-party verification on certain engineering plans.”

Several farm operational ordinances either in place or under consideration in Wisconsin create additional guidelines for farmers, with many targeting larger farms’ hours of operation, fees, and additional permits. 

Tomasek says if this ordinance had passed, the manure restrictions would have extended to any Pierce County farm spreading in the Town of Rock Elm.

Tomasek says the vote is a win for farmers because local government realized the farms already follow many regulations at the local, state, and federal levels and did not feel additional regulations were necessary.

AUDIO: Erin Tomasek from the Dairy Business Association discusses local farm operational ordinances and a recent decision by a Wisconsin town not to enact additional farm restrictions with Brownfield’s Larry Lee