DC starts process of forming CAFO study group

By LeAnn R. Ralph

MENOMONIE  —  The Dunn County Board’s Planning, Resources & Development Committee has taken the first step toward forming the Livestock Operations Study Group.

Steve Rasmussen of Boyceville, chair of the Dunn County Board, reported at the PR&D’s October 25 meeting that he had been talking to potential nominees for the study group. Three people he had called had said “yes,” and Rasmussen said he was waiting for three others to call back.

Rasmussen said he expected to have the nominations settled by the end of the week.

At the time of the October 25 PR&D meeting, four farmers had agreed to be in the study group, he said.

The Dunn County Board approved a six-month moratorium on Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) at the October 19 meeting.

During the moratorium, a special study group, known as the Livestock Operations Study Group, will analyze scientific literature regarding the impact of livestock facilities with 1,000 or more animal units on groundwater, surface water, air quality and public health and safety.

The study group also will work on identifying areas where new regulations may be needed, identifying current regulations that may need to be modified, and where current enforcement is inadequate to protect public health or safety.

The study group will include members of the PR&D committee; the chair of the Dunn County Health and Human Services board (or a designee); the county planner and zoning administrator; the county’s land and water conservationist; a representative from the the UW-Extension system; and at least six interested Dunn County residents and property owners, at least three of whom must derive their main income from livestock production and will be appointed by the county board chair.

The ordinance authorizes the study group to spend up to $12,700.

The six-month moratorium on large-scale livestock facilities in Dunn County applies to new facilities that will have 1,000 animal units or more and to the expansion of existing facilities that would bring the number of animal units to more than 1,000.

One milk cow or one dry cow represents 1.4 animal units.

The study group must also plan the scope of the work and how the work will be approached, said Tom Quinn, county board supervisor from Downing and chair of the PR&D committee.

Paul Miller, the county’s new manager who started working for Dunn County in September, has a background in planning, Quinn noted.

In addition to the way in which CAFOs could impact groundwater and surface water, the study group should also consider the impact on town roads and county roads, Rasmussen said.

The state’s Department of Transportation has changed the rules to allow much heavier loads, which will create a concern for town boards about the impacts on town roads, he said.

There is some ambiguity about the county’s regulatory authority, so case law that applies to the county’s authority over CAFOs should also be part of the review performed by the study group, Miller said.

Without a review of the regulatory authority, the study group could end up wasting valuable time talking about areas where the county has no control, he said.

Another issue raised during the testimony regarding a moratorium is that people fear the state Department of Natural Resources does not have the staff to adequately monitor CAFOs, Rasmussen said.

Dunn County has had a manure storage ordinance that requires a nutrient management plan since 2000, said Dan Prestebak, county conservationist.

Dunn County only has so many employees to monitor the nutrient management plans, so it is up to the farmer to apply the correct number of gallons per acre, he said.

Dunn County may need a certified crop advisor to oversee the CAFOs, Prestebak said.

The study group will most likely meet several times per month during the moratorium.

When the six-month moratorium expires, the group can still work on the project, Rasmussen said.

By the next PR&D meeting November 8, the study group nominees are expected to be confirmed.

Bob Colson, Dunn County zoning administrator, said he would put together an outline of the study group’s scope by the next meeting as well.

The PR&D committee can add items to the outline to end up with a working document, Colson said.

Six months is not a very long time, Miller said, adding that he would recommend working backwards from the date when the moratorium expires to figure out the steps needed for the process that leads to the study group’s final report.

The PR&D committee meets next November 8 at 8:30 a.m. at the Dunn County Government Center.