Wisconsin Ag Connection - WFU Disagrees with Counterparts Over ATCP 51 Changes

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WFU Disagrees with Counterparts Over ATCP 51 Changes
Wisconsin Ag Connection - 09/18/2019

Not every agriculture group in the Badger State is opposed to revising the rules that regulate local approval of new or expanding livestock farms. Leaders of the Wisconsin Farmers Union say they are in favor of the proposed changes recommended for ATCP51, and even expressed 'disappointment' toward a coalition of other farm organizations and cooperatives that are calling on the state's agriculture board to reject them.

"We've already got an oversupply problem in the dairy industry," said WFU President Darin Von Ruden. "Further expansion of our biggest farms is like throwing gasoline on a fire."

On Monday, nearly a dozen state farm lobbying and commodity organizations held a press conference in Madison to express their opposition to the changes, which were drafted by DATCP staff over the past year. They claim the revisions would harm local farms and the businesses that depend on them.

However, the WFU contends that much of the volatility driving farms out of business can be traced back to oversupply of milk that is outpacing profitable demand.

"DATCP is currently doing exactly what the Livestock Siting Law contemplated, which was to make periodic and substantive changes to these rules with the benefit of Technical Committee recommendations," said WFU Government Relations Director Kara O'Connor. "There are parts of the existing rules that are outdated, unworkable, and contrary to the available science, and frankly it's troubling to see some of our fellow agriculture groups defending the indefensible."

According to a press release issued by the group on Tuesday, WFU is asking the DATCP board to use the ATCP 51 process to 'hold large livestock operations accountable for the damage they are causing to land, water, roads, and neighboring property values.'

The board is scheduled to review public comments on the proposed revision at its monthly meeting this week in Madison.

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