MADISON (WKOW) — Republican lawmakers are trying to pass a bill in the final days of the session that would change who regulates factory farms.
Wisconsin factory farms which are made up of big operations with a large number of farm animals could soon have farm groups regulating how they operate instead of local control under the proposal.
While the GOP-backed bill doesn’t make major changes to current standards it does give more power over changing standards in the future.
Right now local governments decide whether factory farms expand or build new ones but Rep. Travis Tranel (R-Cuba City) bill would instead allow a nine-member board to make those decisions created through the Department of Agriculture Trade and Consumer Protections.
Farmers who want to open or expand operations would have to apply through DATCP who would make sure they meet state standards. Then, local governments would review the request to ensure it meets local zoning and building code standards.
Some groups like Family Farm Defenders oppose the measure because the new board could make it difficult to pass any new environmental regulations such as preventing polluting water and groundwater.
“We believe people have the right to have a say about how their land is treated about what type of farming happens in their communities,” said John Peck, Executive Director for Family Farm Defenders.
“There’s like basically no liability insurance for these operations when they go belly up and contaminate neighbors.”
Supporters of the proposal include farm groups, Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation, the Wisconsin Farmers Union, the Dairy Business Association, the Wisconsin Dairy Alliance, the Wisconsin Pork Producers, the Wisconsin Cattlemen’s Association and others.
President of Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation Joe Bragger said having these groups represented in the decision process would guarantee farmers have a say at the table for any future rule changes.
“We would work to make sure that our farmers are represented because that’s that’s what we’re here for, our members and our rural communities,” said Bragger.
John Laeser, the Water Program Director with Clean Wisconsin said they have “significant concerns” about the makeup of the review board.
“The authority it is given in place of DATCP, and the additional difficulties it would present to updating the livestock siting rule as new information arises… (the proposal) further ties the hands of local communities, it hands responsibilities to the DNR and DATCP without providing any additional resources,” said Laeser.
Opponents also argue the bill was rushed and didn’t include enough time for farmers and the public to provide input. Bill sponsors said they’ve had a draft of the bill for months, but it was first introduced last week.
The state Assembly plans to vote on it during its final session day of the year on Thursday before adjourning for the year, the Senate plans to adjourn next month.
