To the editor,

On Sept. 16, more than 100 Pepin County residents filled the Pepin Sportsman’s Club to hear Lisa Doerr, a Polk County farmer, explain to the Pepin Town Board how towns are meeting the challenges and threats posed by factory farming (CAFOs) across western Wisconsin. 

Her presentation included up-to-date information on the inadequacy of state law when it comes to governing and regulating this industry. She also described in detail the lack of oversight this self-reporting industry currently enjoys. 

Doerr gave examples of the ordinances towns and counties are passing to address community concerns. She and other townspeople then asked Pepin board members to let the group, originally appointed to study this giant industry, continue the work that was abruptly ended by the board in July.

I was a member of the study group which town board members agreed to form at their annual meeting in April and then, preemptively disbanded three months later. They voted to do so in July at a town board meeting after a presentation was given by Kim Bremmer, the executive director of Venture Dairy.

Venture Dairy is a major player in this industry. It should be known that they are working in Madison to get our legislators to ban all local control over factory farms. At the same time, they are trying to end what little authority the DNR currently possesses over how this industry operates.  

Not surprisingly, the presentation in Pepin was also attended by paid industry representatives who attempted to sow doubt about the need for local control. Fortunately, a majority of people at the meeting recognized this and pushed back knowing that the protections currently in place don’t sufficiently address community concerns. 

I think it bears repeating that if we let this industry decide our future, we only open ourselves up to serious problems down the road. This includes lower property values and tax revenue, well contamination, road damage, the possibility of deadly manure spills, and the degradation of our environment and local economy. To assume otherwise would be simply foolish. 

I’d like to see our town board reinstate the CAFO study group and continue supporting members of that group who originally volunteered to do this important work on behalf of everyone in the Town of Pepin. It's clear the residents of our town and many other communities across western Wisconsin want and need to protect their land and homes.

Carol Inderieden

Town of Pepin