In 2008, Jeff Petry, a businessman from Rockford, IL announced his plan to site a 3200-head dairy on one of the properties he owns in Vernon County. The first site he selected was near Westby. Now he’s considering building the CAFO (concentrated animal feeding operation) on his land in Franklin Township.
VSN is opposed to CAFOs for many reasons, and this one is no exception.
Not only would a CAFO not benefit local farmers, but it might very well decrease property values, threaten air quality, and harm our waterways. Studies have proven these claims, but so have the experiences of people who live near CAFOs. A 1500-cow operation in Thief River Falls, Minnesota recently produced so much hydrogen sulfide that the health department ordered nearby residents to evacuate. One evacuee said, “It’s so strong and so sour and so potent that it takes your breath right away. We’ve had neighbors throw up in their driveways.”
Air quality is a universal concern, but here in the Driftless region our wells, streams, and rivers are especially vulnerable to the potential effects of large-scale livestock operations. Beneath our towns and fields lies a fragile Karst geology. The land is full of caves, crevasses, and sinkholes that provide channels for unrestricted surface drainage to our aquifers. Faulty manure storage and runoff from field-applied wastes can quickly contaminate our water supply with excessive nitrogen, phosphorus, and harmful bacteria.
According to Vernon County Land and Water Conservation officials, Petry’s proposed CAFO would require 1.5 acres per cow to responsibly spread manure and other waste. That adds up to 4800 acres. However, none of Petry’s holdings are that large, and so his business would have to transport manure to be spread elsewhere.
The group leading opposition to siting the proposed CAFO in Vernon County is the Alliance Concerned for Environmental Safety (ACES). Kathy Fairchild, VSN board member, has been leading ACES’ efforts to educate residents and get answers from the Wisconsin DNR.
Petry Trust’s Proposed CAFO
In 2008, Jeff Petry, a businessman from Rockford, IL announced his plan to site a 3200-head dairy on one of the properties he owns in Vernon County. The first site he selected was near Westby. Now he’s considering building the CAFO (concentrated animal feeding operation) on his land in Franklin Township.
VSN is opposed to CAFOs for many reasons, and this one is no exception.
Not only would a CAFO not benefit local farmers, but it might very well decrease property values, threaten air quality, and harm our waterways. Studies have proven these claims, but so have the experiences of people who live near CAFOs. A 1500-cow operation in Thief River Falls, Minnesota recently produced so much hydrogen sulfide that the health department ordered nearby residents to evacuate. One evacuee said, “It’s so strong and so sour and so potent that it takes your breath right away. We’ve had neighbors throw up in their driveways.”
Air quality is a universal concern, but here in the Driftless region our wells, streams, and rivers are especially vulnerable to the potential effects of large-scale livestock operations. Beneath our towns and fields lies a fragile Karst geology. The land is full of caves, crevasses, and sinkholes that provide channels for unrestricted surface drainage to our aquifers. Faulty manure storage and runoff from field-applied wastes can quickly contaminate our water supply with excessive nitrogen, phosphorus, and harmful bacteria.
According to Vernon County Land and Water Conservation officials, Petry’s proposed CAFO would require 1.5 acres per cow to responsibly spread manure and other waste. That adds up to 4800 acres. However, none of Petry’s holdings are that large, and so his business would have to transport manure to be spread elsewhere.
The group leading opposition to siting the proposed CAFO in Vernon County is the Alliance Concerned for Environmental Safety (ACES). Kathy Fairchild, VSN board member, has been leading ACES’ efforts to educate residents and get answers from the Wisconsin DNR.
Learn more about Driftless-area CAFOs and the Petry Trust controversy at the Kickapoo Free Press
Sign the Petition to stop this CAFO