Public hearings set for livestock siting rule revisions

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) unanimously voted on July 10, to move a draft of ATCP 51, the Department`s livestock siting rule, forward for public comment. If adopted by local municipalities, this rule provides uniform guidance on regulating livestock operations in their communities.

The rule went into effect in 2006 and has not been updated since.

“This vote is a positive step forward in the process to update Wisconsin`s livestock siting regulations," stated DATCP Secretary Brad Pfaff. “Our Department staff and many industry partners have been working on this rule for years, in both the current and previous administrations...   ...more

Ken Notes: It is so important to update these and do a comprehensive review of CAFOs which are systemically destroying small farms and using old rules to discharge mass amounts of manure. This is like saying you can build a brand new city and treat the waste with a septic system.

I remain a strong advocate for requiring CAFOs to digest and/or heat their effluent to eliminate the pathogens and reduce unnecessary phosphorus (bacteria or nitrates). This is being done right here in Wisconsin, it IS affordable and it works...