Posted: 09.06.2011

The clock is ticking for the law that has helped guide Wisconsin livestock growth since 2004.  The Wisconsin Supreme Court is expected to hear the case as soon as this month.

John Adams vs Wisconsin involves 8 families in the small township of Magnolia in Rock county that say the livestock siting law and its appeal process overstepped it's authority.  The livestock siting law specifically lays out state standards for any livestock operation that wants to expand.  It tells farms specifically what they need to do regarding location, odor and emission management, manure spreading and storage, runoff management and more.  The law allows local government to adopt the state standards or set their own guidelines - as long as they're not more restrictive then the state standards.  There's the rub.

In Magnolia township, Larson dairy - a 6 family dairy operation that operates 5,000 acres to milk 2,900 cows - has been caught in this battle since the law went in place.  Plaintiffs claim that the Larson's permit was modified by the state siting committee - exceeding its powers.

Larson dairy has been working to expand their family farm since 2002 when the fighting started.  Now, both sides are facing financial exhaustion.  Magnolia township has already attempted to put financial constraints in place before the case moved to the Supreme Court, requesting those involved with the case against the state to raise some funds to help offset township expense.

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