Gov. Scott Walker signs bill to loosen Wisconsin well rules

MADISON - Gov. Scott Walker privately signed controversial legislation Thursday to let farms and businesses keep their large-scale wells without added oversight from Wisconsin regulators.

The GOP governor`s approval of the high-volume well measure marks a win for those seeking to maintain and expand irrigation for agriculture, especially vegetable and dairy farms in central Wisconsin. The practice has become more controversial as lakes and streams in that region have lost substantial volumes over the last decade.

The proposal`s prominent sponsor, Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau), has called the legislation a "pro-farm" measure, noting that Wisconsin produces some of the largest amounts of vegetables in the nation. ...

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Ken Notes: I would love to hear from farmers on this issue. My understanding is that it is larger operations and CAFO`s that need the deep wells. This would be a small percentage of actual farmers in the state????