There has been good news for those organizing for responsibility on the part of large animal feeding operations (CAFOs.) The conference in early April was a terrific success with good attendance from the concerned as well as ag industry. From this lift there is a new blog on the block Wisconsin_CAFO_Watch that will help organizers network and get news out to state and national environmentalists. Watch some video there from the April Conference.

And perhaps most importantly the DATCP Siting Review Board last Friday reversed the decision of the Crawford County Land and Water Board to give a siting permit to a hog confinement facility expansion planned near the Wisconsin River. The issue was decided because the plan for where the manure would go was not adequate to protect water resources. A press release that was prepared by Midwest Environmental Advocates is below the fold.

While all those pressing for responsible agriculture need to take a moment for a pat on the back, this is just one step on a very long campaign. Keep your eye on that new blog for future developments.

[press release from Midwest Environmental Advocates

via WisPolitics]

Once again, factory farms get a pass from a major environmental law 2/27/2008

If you live downwind from a mega-farm, don't put away those gas masks just yet.

The Natural Resources Board voted today to approve a Department of Natural Resources (DNR) rule that grants "sources of hazardous air pollution associated with agricultural waste" (read: manure) yet another exemption from state requirements concerning toxic air emissions. Now, these sources of pollution won't have to meet state requirements until July 31, 2011.

Since Borges is out on vacation, I thought I'd bring up the fact that the 2400 head Vernon County CAFO operation that she blogged about recently is probably going in . The Vernon County Board has voted to not support a moratorium on CAFO operations. More details when we have some.

Update -

There's now an article in the Vernon County Broadcaster .  Although there will be no moratorium on large animal operations --

The board did, however, approve two measures to address farm growth and
land planning. On a pair of 15-14 votes, the board approved an animal
siting ordinance limiting animal units and approved a measure to begin
comprehensive planning.

The animal siting ordinance deals with
farms with more than 500 animal units. That ordinance only gives the
county oversight on the location of such an operation and is basically
a permitting system. The ordinance is very similar to state legislation
formulated for counties.