What does CAFO oversight look like in Wisconsin and who pays for it?


What does CAFO oversight look like in Wisconsin and who pays for it?


As large livestock farms proliferate (including a new proposal in the St. Croix River watershed), the state wrestles with how to fund inspections and regulation.

Wisconsin’s agricultural bounty is possible thanks in part to the state’s voluminous supply of freshwater. At the same time, the use of this resource to grow crops and nourish livestock poses risks to the quality of these waters. The effects of agricultural practices on the state’s rivers, lakes, wetlands and groundwater can come by way of soil erosion, water overuse, chemicals and livestock manure...

...The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is statutorily responsible for enforcing federal clean water regulations in the state, and as part of that responsibility the agency issues permitsthat set rules for releasing pollutants into the state’s waters....

...A 2016 review by the state’s Legislative Audit Bureau found significant problems with the program’s ability to keep up with its workload. One illustration of this issue: In 2017, one-third of CAFOs were operating under expired permits because of a permitting backlog. Two years later, the DNR has closed the gap somewhat but remains unable to keep up with oversight. Nearly a quarter of CAFOs were operating with expired permits in June 2019...

   ...more

Ken Notes: One of the best overviews on the subject I have read, and I read most of them...

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- - Volume: 7 - WEEK: 27 Date: 7/1/2019 8:19:59 AM -