Rally to help finance court case against farm
MAGNOLIA TOWNSHIP — Rural residents in western Rock County and eastern Green County are asking the public to support their fight against a large dairy farm.
The public is invited Saturday to a benefit to raise money for legal costs incurred by town of Magnolia and residents as their case against Larson Acres moves to the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
Larson Acres is Rock County's largest dairy farm. It has 5,580 animal units. One cow equals 1.4 animal units.
The meal and rally, which is scheduled for Saturday, will include soup, buffalo meat tacos, vegetarian tacos and ice cream. The buffalo meat was raised by the Heider family of Janesville, the spinach for the veggie tacos is being grown by Scotch Hill Farms in Brodhead, and the ice cream will come from Sassy Cow Creamery in Columbus.
The case will have an impact on the protection of Wisconsin's water and the future of local control—rather than state control—to enforce rules governing public safety and health, according to a news release from Tony Ends, owner of Scotch Hill Farm.
The Supreme Court decision is expected to set a precedent as to how the state's livestock siting law interacts with local zoning authority, according to a news release from the court. It will be the first such case accepted by the court.
The case revolves around conditions the town placed on the Larson Acres permit in 2007 to protect groundwater—an action the farm claimed was micromanagement.
The farm appealed to the livestock siting board, which found in the farm's favor.
The town and a group of neighbors appealed the livestock siting board's decision in Rock County Court. A judge vacated the siting board's decision.
The farm and the livestock siting board then took the case to the District 4 Court of Appeals, which said the siting board acted within its powers when it reversed some of the town's conditions.
The town and the neighbors sought Supreme Court review.
The town's attorney has agreed to argue the case for $15,000. A town board member donated $10,000 toward the expenses, and the town has budgeted $5,000 for legal expenses in 2012.
The citizens group's legal fees are separate from the town's.
IF YOU GO
What: Benefit meal to raise money for legal costs incurred by residents and the town of Magnolia to argue the Larson Acres case to the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
When: 3 to 8 p.m. Saturday, April 2.
Where: American Legion Hall, 3913 S. Highway 213, Orfordville.
Details: Money raised will go to the Green-Rock Citizens for Clean Water, Green Rock Audubon Society and the town of Magnolia to pay for costs associated with litigating the Larson Acres case in the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
Cost: Donations of any size may be made at the benefit. RSVP or send checks to Green-Rock Audubon Society, c/o Linda Adams at Brodhead Packages Plus, 1021 1st Center Ave., Brodhead, WI 53520. Email Adams at bpackages@frontier.com. For more information, contact Tony Ends at (608) 897-4288 or email tony@scotchhillfarm.com.
Apr 4, 2011 at 8:42 p.m.
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We're talking about a mega-farm that has some local residents, not happy with "fresh country air". If you live in the country... how could you possibly be irritated by manure? Of course, we have the inconsiderate farmer who tosses slurry with NO regard to his neighbors. But we are an agricultural state... seriously folks...
Apr 3, 2011 at 3:54 p.m.
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Metro Milton- The fundraiser more than likely was for past legal fees that are unpaid.
Expert witnesses for trial can cost alot too.
Apr 2, 2011 at 9:41 p.m.
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What happened to the $10K that one of the board members had guaranteed to give to the "cause"?????
IF they REALLY had the $$$, a fund raiser would not be needed!!!
Apr 2, 2011 at 2:46 p.m.
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NO
Apr 2, 2011 at 1:23 p.m.
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From the same paper...
"Communities that gain new industrialized farming will encounter stresses in the social fabric; community decision-making is likely to be more subject to corporate farm interests; and in the case of large livestock confinement operations, communities will be at risk for environ-mental and health problems, entailing the need for state and local government intervention.
Communities that lose moderate-size family farms, in part because of transaction cost advantages (e.g., volume buying-selling) and public incentives given to industrialized farms, will lose a base of middle class producers and experience rifts in social fabric, including population decline. These communities are likely to have declines in other businesses and in the local property tax base and may require government aid for social and public services."
There are no benefits to the community. Instead, there are stresses, environmental impacts, and public health problems.
Apr 2, 2011 at 1:19 p.m.
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Sometimes, when the mega-dairies and what not want to move in, they try to justify the risk to health and environment. But the science on that is clear. There is no justification. There is no economic benefit to the town and community, just a few individuals. This is from, "Industrialized Farming and Its Relationship to Community" by Stofferahn, 2006.
A 2006 study commissioned by the North Dakota Attorney General’s Office provides a review of 56 socioeconomic studies concerning the impacts of industrial agriculture on rural communities. It concluded: “Based on the evidence generated by social science research, we conclude that public concern about the detrimental community impacts of industrialized farming is warranted. In brief, this conclusion rests on five decades of government and academic concern with this topic, a concern that has not abetted but that has grown more intense in recent years, as the social and environmental problems associated with large animal confinement operations [CAFOs] have become widely recognized (italics added). It rests on the consistency of five decades of social science research which has found detrimental effects of industrialized farming on many indicators of community quality of life, particularly those involving the social fabric of communities. And it rests on the new round of risks posed by industrialized farming to Heartland agriculture, communities, the environment, and regional development as a whole.”
Apr 2, 2011 at 8:04 a.m.
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This argument will not result in a different end result. This is why state sighting laws were created. This is a sad realization why higher government intervention is sometimes the solution to irrational thoughts. If there were fewer examples of clouded interpretations of the problem, I would discourage higher legal influences even more than I do. Supporters of this resistive movement need to learn how to become part of a solution. Unless they do, they will no doubt continue to be a problem and will move on to the next cause with the same perspective. Stop justifying the need for a babysitter.
Apr 2, 2011 at 6:34 a.m.
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It's still the same old "NOT IN MY BACK YARD MENTALITY". And more wasteful spending of tax payer money!
Apr 2, 2011 at 5:04 a.m.
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I can't believe you would not be happy about this. With Walker as governor the majority of citizens has said they want business conglomerates to control the state, drive down corporate taxes, and deregulate anything that moves.
Apr 1, 2011 at 9:50 p.m.
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Dwight- Bradford Township has a larger dairy to fight....And it will be costly.
Fight Bradford Township! Fight!
Apr 1, 2011 at 8:58 p.m.
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Dwight- who do you think is writing the conditional use requirements for the pivots right now?
Apr 1, 2011 at 6:14 p.m.
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6824 - Bradford township is not fighting the farm like Magnolia is. They aren't going to have legal fees to pay in that regard.
Apr 1, 2011 at 5:42 p.m.
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While I have the UTMOST respect for Farmers, these "mega" farms seem to impact the local environment considerably. From what I have read, the waste of bio-product and being within close approximation to small towns, seems to be the irritant. I live in Milton. A few years ago, the farmer on the east side of town, just south of us sprayed ALL his slurry on a windy day. We actually thought there was a natural gas leak and called the fire department. The smell permeated everything! He has since made the decision to spray with more respect for his city neighbors. Low wind days.
I hope they can come to an agreement that will pacify the local community and allow this mega-farm to co-exist.
Apr 1, 2011 at 4:21 p.m.
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Bradford township better pay attention they are next on the list for expensive attorney fees.
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