Another story in the Gazette that highlights how nothing goes on in Janesville. Gotta love the farm related articles.

janesvillehillibli needs to change their name.It implies too much and your comments as well. do you really think those herds of cattle are just for the farmer/owner to eat. duh .i agree with blue wolfs comment to you DUH!!

To janesberghillbilly, "Where to you think the food in the grocery store comes from?" Duh!!!

i myself have had two run ins with cattle,literally! The first I hit a herd of six or seven killing one and the farmer put down another two. recently I hit a steer at 55 MPH. My truck was totaled, I called 911, Rock county deputies arrived,called the farmer and told me this farmer has had this happen before due to poor fencing. I asked if he can be fined and was told it would amount to a 25.00 fine. I wasn't injured as I was in a 3/4 ton truck, what happens to the occupants of a compact or mid sized car????? farmers, especially those located by a highway or buisily traveled road need to check fencing. I'm not sure how many deaths are attributed to car vs cattle crashes but sure don't want myself or loved ones to be on the list.

If your neighbor's animals are always out and you are sure its because of bad fencing take it up with the township. Gripping here is not going to solve anything. Then again bad fencing may not be the problem. It might be bad neighbors just being jerks. I spent more times then I care remember chasing cattle off the road (night or day, snow, sleet, and rain) because a neighbor had their dogs trained by hand signals and would have them chase the cattle just to cause problems. Remember....ITS NEVER GOOD TO BITE THE HAND THAT FEEDS YOU!!!!!!

Evansvillehousewife is almost right. If livestock are on the road all the time because of bad fences or a gate was left open then the owner of the livestock is liable. However if they have never been reported out before and broke out a legal fence then the car owner pays for the animal and to fix their car.

Farmers wife-
I DO own livestock.I've bucked plenty hay in my young life. This is why I know the liabilities involved with owning said animals.
I don't make the rules. If you can't upgrade your fences and keep your animals in, then at least make sure you have a large umbrella policy, because you will eventually need it.

I agree with evansvillehousewife . Last Evening
a School Bus almost hit a Steer but was able to avoid it . It was getting dark and between 2 curves. The Farmer has had bad fences for quite some time and the cattle are out in the road often . They need to be replaced . If the Farmer can afford to keep buying up land or renting the fields , He should be able to afford new fencing .

Farming provides your food... no matter WHAT you eat!
Not that fences aren't a priority, but sometimes things can't be avoided, and have to take a backseat to a lot of other chores. Accidents are just that. I don't know a successful farmer who works 8 hour days, 5 days a week... They're out there everyday - holidays, Sundays, birthdays, middle of the night, because that's how it has to be...
Have a little consideration for people that work a lot harder than the rest of us!

~A Farmers Wife.

I've had to move cattle off highways more times than I care to admit. Most often it is off HWY 14, and it's the same farmers that have cattle that keep getting out.
I think they think they are saving money by not replacing fences, but the first time they get hit with a lawsuit they'll see how expensive poor fencing really is.
if your livestock is out on the road and causes an accident (and a cow or a horse is a HUGE thing to hit) the owner is liable.
Unless, of course, you're out West where open range laws apply. Then if you hit a cow, you have to pay for it.
But, we're in Wisconsin. We have no open range here. Farmers have a duty to keep their livestock fenced and off the roads.

I wish I could have seen sheriff's deputies herding cattle. I bet some of them have never been close to a cow. Seriously, though it is fortunate that no one was hurt. When driving in the country people should be alert for farming activity and slow down a little when appropriate. You are not driving on the interstate when you are driving on country roads and the speed limit is not the slowest speed that you are allowed to drive.