To the editor,

Kudos to the Oak Grove Town Board for recently hosting a well-balanced forum on Operations Ordinances for CAFO’s (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations).

Oak Grove’s Town Hall was packed. The panel included:

• Lisa Doerr, a Polk County Farmer, discussed how a proposed livestock operation for 26,000 hogs prompted five townships in her community to study, draft and adopt Operations Ordinances.
• Brad Olson, President, WI Farm Bureau and American Farm Bureau Board member.
• Rod Webb, Director, Pierce County Land Conservation Department.

Throughout the evening the audience was told that CAFOs are the most regulated sector of Wisconsin’s ag industry. However, Rod Webb’s concise answers to several audience questions painted a different picture:

1) Audience Question: Within the CAFO permitting process, is there a requirement for systematic testing of the well water within the neighboring community? 

Webb’s reply: “No.”

2) Audience Question: Within the CAFO permitting process, is there a requirement that industrial-sized ag operations monitor the air quality of the neighboring community?

Webb’s reply: “No.”

 3) Audience Question: Within the CAFO permitting process, is there a requirement that industrial-sized operations have a surety bond so that local taxpayers aren’t on the hook to clean up the site in case the operation fails? 

Webb’s reply: “No.”

Webb’s one-word answers help explain why townships such as Maiden Rock where I live, are passing Operations Ordinances to address gaps in county and state CAFO regulations that threaten our communities’ health and property.

Mary Anne Wise

Chair, Maiden Rock Township’s Operations Ordinance Study Commission