Posted: 02.24.2010

The need for revisions in Wisconsin’s livestock facility siting rule was apparent from comments heard during a Feb. 24 listening session in Eau Claire, according to Wisconsin Farmers Union President Darin Von Ruden.
 
Von Ruden, a Westby-area dairy farmer, was among Wisconsin rural residents testifying at the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection’s listening session about the siting rule’s review. The review was scheduled when the rule was implemented in 2006.
 
“A lot of rural people are saying the rule should give more local control back to them,” Von Ruden said. “There has been a lot of localized turmoil and many questions about siting the state’s largest animal-agriculture operations since the rule was put into place. That tells us there needs to be a great deal of revision considered during this review.”
 
Part of the review process is considering whether the entire review should be done within the state DATCP or whether it should be done by a committee of experts. Von Ruden said a panel of all facets of rural Wisconsin – similar to the committee that negotiated the initial rule – should do the majority of the rule.
 
“When the rule was implemented, some of the organizations represented in its positions felt there needed to be more work done on the rule,” Von Ruden said. “It almost seemed as though there was a rush to get the rule in place, because it had been worked on for a couple of years. Fortunately, we have this review opportunity to answer questions some of those organizations had; we shouldn’t squander this opportunity.”
 
Besides local-control issues, Von Ruden said the rule should give consideration to issues such as geology, water availability, runoff potential and social and economic factors.
.

« back to news articles