Below are highlights from an article by Alex Moe published on WisBusiness.com on March 5, 2019 and on the Wisconsin State Farmer on March 10, 2019.
Representatives of the Wisconsin Dairy Alliance are meeting with GOP legislative leaders to push for a different approach to pollution regulation, which would take some pressure off the state’s largest farms. The recently formed nonprofit group is lobbying on behalf of concentrated animal feeding operations, or CAFOs, in Wisconsin.
“This is the first time that I’m aware of, that there’s a group that’s standing up specifically to advocate and talk about what’s actually happening on these large farms,” said Laurie Fischer, a lobbyist for WDA.
She tells WisBusiness.com that WDA President Cindy Leitner and other members met Monday with Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald.
According to Fischer, their message for Republican leaders was focused on the “scapegoating” of CAFOs. She says these large farms are unfairly blamed for many pollution-related woes, and WDA wants to ensure future law changes don’t add more regulations to the existing list of CAFO requirements.
The group is also supporting legislation from GOP authors that would create a central clearinghouse from which facilities and farmers could buy and sell water pollution credits.
“Everyone needs to be at the table,” Fischer said. “Instead of singling some out and just putting more onerous regulations [on CAFOs] … this will help find avenues for everyone to participate.”
See the bill draft:
http://www.wispolitics.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/190226WaterPollutionCreditsDraft.pdf
Read this article in its entirety at
https://www.wisbusiness.com/2019/wisconsin-dairy-alliance-lobbying-for-states-largest-farms/
