Post by jonsdigs on Jul 31, 2007 7:45:26 GMT -5
Vernon County hog hearing draws huge crowd
By Gregg Hoffmann
WisBusiness
7/31/2007
VIROQUA - An issue that could have statewide implications for farming and the environment drew more than 300 people to a hearing room at Western Technical College Monday night.
The hearing was on two proposed ordinances in Vernon County -- one that would declare a six-month moratorium on large scale farming and the second that would establish regulations for such farm operations under a siting ordinance.
About 200 people actually made it into the hearing room to express their opinions. More than 100 remained outside the packed room, in the hallways and in the parking lot, where dozens of tractors and other farm equipment had been parked by people who oppose the moratorium and siting ordinance.
Signs ranging from “Real Environmentalists: Farmers” to “Don’t Spend Our Tax Dollars on a Lawsuit” to “No Factory Farms” could be seen both in the parking lot and in the hearing room.
What has prompted the proposed measures is a plan to build a 2,400 hog confinement on the farm owned by Jeff and Bonnie Parr near Retreat. The moratorium, proposed by the Vernon County Public Health Committee, calls for a six-month halt on any new or expanding animal facility exceeding 500 units. The siting ordinance, proposed by the county Land and Water Conservation Committee, would set regulations similar to or in excess of state regulations.
Supporters of the moratorium are concerned about runoff from manure from large scale operations, as well as odors and other environmental problems.
“What’s wrong with allowing every town or county in this state to decide land use issues rather than have a uniform state law or regulations?” said Matt Urch, a rural Viroqua resident who supports the moratorium and works with the Land Stewardship Project.
“The people of the town where this operation is proposed would have it dumped on them. In this Driftless Area, we have even more concerns because of the karst geology of the area.”
Full Story
By Gregg Hoffmann
WisBusiness
7/31/2007
VIROQUA - An issue that could have statewide implications for farming and the environment drew more than 300 people to a hearing room at Western Technical College Monday night.
The hearing was on two proposed ordinances in Vernon County -- one that would declare a six-month moratorium on large scale farming and the second that would establish regulations for such farm operations under a siting ordinance.
About 200 people actually made it into the hearing room to express their opinions. More than 100 remained outside the packed room, in the hallways and in the parking lot, where dozens of tractors and other farm equipment had been parked by people who oppose the moratorium and siting ordinance.
Signs ranging from “Real Environmentalists: Farmers” to “Don’t Spend Our Tax Dollars on a Lawsuit” to “No Factory Farms” could be seen both in the parking lot and in the hearing room.
What has prompted the proposed measures is a plan to build a 2,400 hog confinement on the farm owned by Jeff and Bonnie Parr near Retreat. The moratorium, proposed by the Vernon County Public Health Committee, calls for a six-month halt on any new or expanding animal facility exceeding 500 units. The siting ordinance, proposed by the county Land and Water Conservation Committee, would set regulations similar to or in excess of state regulations.
Supporters of the moratorium are concerned about runoff from manure from large scale operations, as well as odors and other environmental problems.
“What’s wrong with allowing every town or county in this state to decide land use issues rather than have a uniform state law or regulations?” said Matt Urch, a rural Viroqua resident who supports the moratorium and works with the Land Stewardship Project.
“The people of the town where this operation is proposed would have it dumped on them. In this Driftless Area, we have even more concerns because of the karst geology of the area.”
Full Story