Farm impact study nixed A proposed 5,200-cow farm does not create enough risk of increasing already high nitrate levels in Rock County soils to warrant an environmental impact study, according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. That is the conclusion of an environmental analysis released by the DNR this month. An impact study would have required a more in-depth process than the analysis, had the DNR deemed the study necessary. The public can comment on the analysis until Friday, Feb. 4.
The 20-page document is part of the DNR's process to approve Nebraska dairy farmer Todd Tuls' application for a wastewater permit to operate a proposed 5,200-cow farm on Highway 14 at Scharine Road.
The DNR expects to issue the permit May 1, according to the environmental analysis. Such permits typically are issued for five years. It would be one of many state, local and county permits Tuls needs to operate his farm.
The analysis addresses a list of discussion points and their significance, including the proposed farm's potential environmental and biological impacts, the precedent the project could set and the potential controversy it could generate.
The analysis will not be certified until after a public hearing, which is yet to be scheduled.
If it were built, the Rock Prairie Dairy would be the largest dairy in Rock or Walworth counties. It would be the fourth-largest in the state. Tuls operates two farms that house 10,000 cows in eastern Nebraska.
This article originally appeared in the GazetteXtra.
Official: Town of Bradford has little say on OK of dairy
The Bradford Town Board is the face the public will watch vote "yes'' or "no'' on what could become the largest livestock operation in southern Wisconsin.
But the town didn't make the rules.
In the next few months, the town will be charged with approving or denying Nebraska dairy farmer Todd Tuls' application for a conditional-use permit to build a 160-acre dairy in Bradford Township. If it is built, the Rock Prairie Dairy will be home to 5,200 cows and will be the third such operation under Tuls' management.
Tuls has to apply for town, county and state permits to operate. He plans to break ground in March.
The project has drawn a lot of attention around Rock County, and people have spoken passionately in favor of and against it.
Town board Chairman Ron Duffy wants to make one thing clear: If you oppose or support Rock Prairie Dairy and other forms of large animal agriculture, your opinions are much better shared with state legislators than town officials.
"The emphasis I would like to have, especially for the people that are against this proposal, is that it seems they don't quite understand that local government doesn't have a lot of control on this issue,'' Duffy said.
At a public hearing in December, 13 people spoke in opposition to the project. Nine are residents of the township. Opponents cite the risk of manure spills or increased odors as the reasons they don't support the project.
Others cite social issues such as the use of antibiotics in livestock production or the practice of housing cattle indoors. Still others say they are concerned such a large business could negatively impact smaller local operations.
While those issues are part of a community debate, they do not fall under the list of things the Bradford Town Board can control, Duffy said. While people have a lot of opinions, they don't seem to understand the town's very limited role, Duffy said.
"They seem to come to the board saying you've got to stop this because of X, Y or Z,'' Duffy said. "My perception is that although many people perceive this in a negative fashion, they are not appreciating what little input the town has in this process.''
The town of Bradford in October 2006 adopted the state of Wisconsin's livestock siting law as the town's ordinance. When the state created the law, towns were mandated to adopt it in order to keep some control over permitting large livestock facilities, said Ron Duffy, chairman of the Bradford Town Board.
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