St. Croix 360

River stories to inspire stewardship.

  • Share News
  • Event Calendar
  • About
    • Contact
    • Subscribe
  • Support

Polk County pushes forward figuring out future of factory hog farms

County committee tries to get informed and prevent pollution while swine companies wait.

By Greg Seitz | June 12, 2020 | 2 minute read

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email
  • Print
  • More
  • LinkedIn
  • Tumblr
  • Pocket
  • Telegram
A hog finishing CAFO in North Carolina. (Via USDA)

Officials in a western Wisconsin county home to major St. Croix River tributaries are trying to craft new policies to protect air, water, and local residents from Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs). Polk County has enacted a moratorium on new “factory farms” while it compiles a report and a draft permit for anticipated applications.

There are few such operations in the region, and those that exist are largely dairy, not swine like recent proposals. Hogs produce large amounts of manure, and have caused many environmental problems in Iowa, where such farms are prevalent.

Last year in St. Croix County, a manure spill from a dairy CAFO caused serious pollution in a nearby stream.

Wisconsin state law restricts what local authorities can do to regulate CAFOs, so new ordinances must be carefully written to protect local interests while not being more restrictive than allowed.

St. Croix 360 will have a full update on the issue in the coming weeks.

The Inter-County Leader reports that the county’s Environmental Services Committee reviewed a draft report about the issue at its May 27 meeting and again this week.

As the committee discussed the report, Supervisor Doug Route noted that many items indicated everything would be fine if “properly stored and handled.”He asked, “How do we manage to properly store and handle? Who’s going to enforce this ‘properly stored, properly managed, properly handled?’”

According to further discussion, the DNR and county staff are both involved, but much is also self-regulated.

Kazmierski noted that spills happen not only in agricultural settings but at fuel stations, propane businesses, and municipal wastewater treatment systems.

“To say we’re going to eliminate spills, period, and say it’s never going happen,” he added, “well, it would be nice.”

– CAFO report nearing completion, Inter-County Leader

The draft report can be viewed here:

Polk County supervisor Amy Middleton, who represents Osceola, offered a detailed memo laying out her concerns with the report, and swine CAFOs generally.

While local governments such as Polk County cannot ban Large-Scale Livestock Facilities, we can implement an operational ordinance, such as the Town of Eureka has, that ensures these factories will not:

• Damage public health
• Pollute water & air
• Destroy property values

However, as hog factory developers attempt to buy prime farmland in Polk County, this report barely scratches the surface on the wide range of public health and economic issues surrounding the swine industry. More focus is needed on the county’s vibrant livestock production and processing industry and the common sense solutions being explored and implemented by towns.

Middleton recommends further work looking at three primary issues:

  1. Economic impact on existing Livestock industry and property values
  2. Laws and enforcement
  3. Health impacts of COVID-19 and African Swine Fever Virus

Stay tuned for more information on this large, fast-moving issue.

Related articles:

Follow

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Features

Two inches and 6,000 gallons: A swollen century on the St. Croix River

Cold comfort

New preserve will let students, community, and anglers experience the Kinnickinnic River

St. Croix 360 is now 100% supported by readers.

Click here to contribute →

 

Latest News

Stillwater restaurant’s trees spared as construction starts on new walkway

Interstate Park and Ice Age Trail prove popular during pandemic

River Falls reservoir drawn down for good after dam damaged by flood

City on lower St. Croix considers housing ordinance in conflict with river rules

St. Croix forestry conference will connect people working for watershed woods

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy

About

St. Croix 360 builds support for river stewardship, and connects people and organizations. It is an independent news source produced by Greg Seitz, with past support from the St. Croix River Association.

Donate to St. Croix 360 today »

Story of 360

One of the biggest challenges facing the St. Croix River is harmful blooms of algae in in the lower river, due to excess nutrients in runoff. The goal is to restore the river by reducing phosphorus levels to 360 tons/year. Learn more »

Share Your News

St. Croix 360 is powered by a broad community of St. Croix River-loving people. Please visit our submission page to send tips, press releases, and other news.

Submit an Event

Lower St. Croix: St. Croix 360 partners with online calendar St. Croix Splash.

  • Submit your events to Splash.
  • Share it with St. Croix 360 for promotion.

For events elsewhere in the watershed, contact St. Croix 360 directly.

St. Croix 360 Syndication

To help increase awareness of the St. Croix River, news organizations and other outlets are free to share St. Croix 360 content, as long as you follow a few simple rules.

Republish St. Croix 360 stories »

Partners

  • St. Croix River Association
  • St. Croix Watershed Research Station
  • ArtReach St. Croix
  • You and all St. Croix 360's readers!
Handcrafted in May Township, Minnesota. Please contribute today »
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.