On March 29, GROWW (Grassroots Organizing Western Wisconsin) joined community groups across Wisconsin celebrating a decision by Gov. Tony Evers to veto Assembly Bill 957 and protect a cornerstone of Wisconsin communities’ local control.

This bill, supported by industry lobbying groups, would have prohibited certain local ordinances relating to corporate agriculture practices, particularly Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (known as CAFOs). Grassroots organizers across the state warned the bill threatened to strip away key local control relating to industrial agriculture in Wisconsin communities. During the March Senate committee hearing, lobbyists from Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce and Venture Dairy Cooperative repeatedly asked senators to prohibit legal ordinances passed in three Wisconsin counties and six towns which aimed to mitigate local costs and impacts of large livestock operations. Towns in multiple Wisconsin counties have been studying similar ordinances. 

Seeing the bill as an attack on local control, members of GROWW and other organizing groups across Wisconsin flooded the governor’s office with messages opposing the bill. In the span of a week, more than 650 people across the state sent messages to Gov. Evers, and on March 29, he heeded demands and vetoed the legislation.

“In rural Wisconsin, we value our local control,” said Phil Verges, a farmer in the Town of Gilman and Vice Chair of GROWW’s board. “As a farmer and town board member, we needed this veto. Locals need the power to hold expanding livestock factory farms accountable for their impacts on roads, property values, air and water quality, and more. Current state regulations have failed to protect communities all across Wisconsin, so it's vital for local communities to have the ability to be involved in writing our own rules.”

At the same time as our communities celebrate the veto from the governor's desk, lobbying groups are finding other ways to strip away remaining industry oversight. Currently pending, lawyers from Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce (WMC) are challenging Wisconsin DNR's authority to regulate livestock operations that spread millions of gallons of raw manure over thousands of acres of land. Attorneys from WMC's Litigation Center argue that, regardless of risk to residents and local resources, livestock operations can't be subjected to regulation until after they have been caught releasing waste into waterways.  This pending lawsuit is a blatant attempt to remove all regulation of industrial agriculture operations.

Large, high concentration livestock operations have well documented economic drawbacks for rural communities. In the face of industry pressure, tools like local ordinances are some communities’ best options to protect their roads, property values, natural resources, and rural way of life. In the face of continued industry pressure, this victory marks a crucial step in the ongoing fight to preserve Wisconsin communities.
GROWW is a grassroots organization based in western Wisconsin. We build power in our communities and create the change we need for all of us, no matter the color of our skin, how much money we have, or who we love. Together, we work toward a future where we all make ends meet, live with dignity, and have a voice in shaping the decisions that impact us. We began our work in 2019 as Pierce County GrassRoots Organizing, and grew out of the name as we began to organize with communities in seven Western Wisconsin counties: Barron, Buffalo, Dunn, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, and Saint Croix. To get connected or learn more about GROWW, visit us at GRO-WW.org, on Instagram at @GrowWisconsin, or on Facebook at Facebook.com/GROWWisconsin.

Submitted by GROWW