Land unit asked for year's delay on big farms in Martell

By Bill Kirk

The environment, the economy and community harmony are among reasons supporters have given Pierce County officials for a one-year moratorium on large-scale agricultural operations in Martell Township.

The proposal from the township drew over 50 people to last Wednesday's Land Management Committee meeting. The vast majority who spoke favored the delay idea, some even suggesting it be expanded countywide.

Chairwoman Rita Kozak said the session was for informational purposes, not committee action. The proposal will likely appear again on a committee agenda in the coming months, according to Kozak.

A few who made their views known opposed the moratorium. A letter read by the chair from Marvin and Ruth Bamman indicated the couple feel the ag community is already regulated adequately. It's Bammans' property that's been considered by a large St. Croix County producer for an 850-cow production facility in Martell Township, a plan that sparked factory farm opposition there early this year.

Bob Fetzer of Fetzer Farms in Elmwood said his family corporation intends to have 700 animal-units by this fall and plans to expand beyond that number. The operation enables the family to make somewhat of a living, Fetzer said.

"If this is approved (for Martell), I'd want to make sure it doesn't spread," said the El Paso Township resident, concerned about his sons' future.

A moratorium won't accomplish large farm opponents' goals, attorney-farmer Bob Richardson of Spring Lake Township said. Richardson rejected shutdowns, calling instead for consultation with engineers who've worked in this area to determine reasonable protections. He defended farmers as "some of the best environmentalists" and disagreed with a delay that would stop large-farm operations until further analysis can be done, especially when many townships in the county have adopted exclusive ag zoning.

"Most of these allegations are based on emotions or conjecture," he said about large farm opponents' concerns. And he disputed an arbitrary designation such as 500 animal-units constituting a "large" operation, saying 499 cows can do just as much damage as 500, for example.

Delay supporters heard

Clay-lined manure pits are "no longer acceptable," John Kenefick, one of several speakers from Martell Township, said. Kenefick referred to animal waste storage needs of large farms. The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has allowed clay linings, with the thinking being that solids in the waste would seep down and act as a barrier in the clay, he explained.

"But they're finding out it's not working," he said. A Kansas State University study he cited found the average clay lagoon has seepage of 336-1/2 inches of materials per year into the groundwater, equal to nearly a million gallons annually.

He favored concrete, fiberglas or steel liners for these storage units. Meantime, there's no financial security like required bonding if failure occurs, he said.

His wife, Julie, discussed the economic impact as well as the environmental, contending "industry" farms are driving family farms out of business. Statewide, 51 such farms existed in Wisconsin a year ago and 24 more are expected this year, she understood. Yet, the DNR has five inspectors for 65,000 feedlots, she said, believing farms which are actually industries should be subject to industrial-type regulations.

Pat Wiff said her biggest concern is the water supply. Wiff said she's learned large farms can draw up to 10 million gallons from the water table annually; she wondered where that volume will come from. If the 11 large operations she said are projected for the county become reality, the area's fragile subsurface would jeopardize the groundwater.

"And if we go into a dry system, we're in trouble," she said about the water table.

Rick Rooney discussed large farms as corporations and feared a "wasteland" would result if they went out of business. Rooney felt a bond should be required of large ag operators, for others' protection in case they'd need to drill new wells due to contamination.

"(Large farms) have a right to make money, but not at the expense of others," he said.

Proceeding slowly was recommended by Rolland Nelson in supporting the moratorium. The factory farm industry is in a hurry to get established before new research can be done, Nelson contended. But waiting a year would be a good idea, he said.

"How many times have we told ourselves, 'I wish I would've known that'?" he asked.

A need to get laws in place here before the arrival of large farms was seen by Dan Knutson. Large operators in St. Croix County are looking to Pierce County for future expansion because of this county's lack of regulations, Knutson said.

"We're standing here with our pants down," he said, advocating more long-range planning.

Likewise, Ted Miner of Rock Elm Township said while Wisconsin has focused on family farms, neighboring states have enacted laws about large farms. Minnesota now requires an environmental impact statement for any operation exceeding 1,000 animal-units, Miner said. He was disappointed Pierce officials dropped regulations about similar-sized farms under county zoning after they'd been included in Rock Elm's zoning plan. Rapid change here in recent years shows the importance of being prepared, he said.

The "cooling-off period" a year's moratorium would provide for township residents was valued by Martell Town Chairman Bill Gilles. Gilles proposed a task force involving the county ag agent, resource agent and others be formed in the interim to research large farm issues, tour the state, educate the public and the like. Although the town has requested the moratorium, he asked it be imposed countywide.

If the moratorium isn't possible, he appealed to the committee for a county resolution supporting Martell's efforts.