Wisconsin CAFO Advocacy at the Capitol

Venture Dairy Cooperative (VDC), Wisconsin Dairy Alliance (WDA) and Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce (WMC) stood up for large farms before the Wisconsin Assembly Agriculture Committee on Wednesday, as they were the only groups offering information only testimony to voice concern. Assembly Bill 727 has some positive and beneficial pieces in it, but unfortunately the bad outweighs the good. The bill proposes adding a new hydrogeologist position at UW Extension that will "focus on developing groundwater resource information primarily at county or local scales and assisting state and local governments, industries and the public in interpreting and using information."

Farmers are spending a growing amount of time refuting biased data, research by anti-CAFO scientists and interpretation by local governments and activists who place all blame at the feet of CAFOs. Lane Ruhland, Director of Advocacy for Venture Dairy Cooperative and the Wisconsin Dairy Alliance, explained to the committee, before state resources are poured into a new position, the legislature must rethink Wisconsin’s regulatory structure, like that for nutrient management. Currently, approximately only 36% of Wisconsin’s cropland is covered by a nutrient management plan (NMP.) CAFOs are the only Wisconsin farms mandated to complete an NMP and must have their plan audited by the DNR annually to ensure compliance to protect both surface and groundwater from environmental harm.

“Continuing to use agriculture as the scapegoat for all environmental concerns, leading to this incrementalism of additional regulations for farms, needs to stop. In particular, Wisconsin CAFOs are some of the most highly regulated in the entire United States. We do not need more regulations piled onto the already regulated farms. Rather, we need to promote innovation and provide access to technology across all sizes of farms if we really intend to make a difference and continue to improve the dairy industry," said Kim Bremmer, Executive Director of Venture Dairy Cooperative.

Even though it was not an easy decision to disagree with all of the other ag lobbying groups in the state, we believe their complete support of the entire bill and aligning with Clean Wisconsin is misguided and would be damaging to CAFO operators throughout the state. Clean Wisconsin often sues farmers, is vehemently anti-CAFO and in their testimony stated that certain agricultural producers just want to be "allowed to pollute drinking water in order to turn a profit."

Further, Ruhland combatted the ridiculous assertion by bill author Senator Cowles that our members are "scared" of what the hydrogeologist might find. “In response to comments directed at our members today, let me set the record straight and be perfectly clear...we are not afraid of scientifically sound and unbiased data because it will show that our members are excellent stewards of our groundwater,” said Ruhland. 

Ruhland also raised concerns about language in the bill that would allow DNR and DATCP to circumvent important transparency and accountability requirements when creating new regulations. In addition, because the bill appropriates state money, the Governor could use his partial veto authority- possibly striking out single words and crafting essentially a new bill with new mandates, and there is nothing we could do to stop it.  

The bill author and committee member representative, Katrina Shankland, explained the purpose of the hydrogeologist position was to assist in well testing in communities and not meant to present policy advice. Ruhland explains, however, that the bill language is not reflective of this understanding.  

Although Venture Dairy Cooperative, Wisconsin Dairy Alliance, and Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce stood as the lone voice with concerns on the bill, the committee was appreciative of and receptive to our concerns. 

The Senate version of this same bill was voted out of the Senate Agriculture Committee after Venture Dairy Cooperative, Wisconsin Dairy Alliance and Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce raised the same concerns. We will remain vigilant to ensure harmful policy does not become law and will continue to monitor this bill.