The 3-2 vote marks a milestone for area residents concerned about threats to their families, properties, and the environment from potential CAFO expansions

River Falls, Wis. – Tuesday morning at the Pierce County Courthouse, the Land Conservation Committee voted to recommend a 6 month moratorium on CAFO (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation) expansions throughout Pierce County with an option to extend to 12 months. With more than 730 Pierce County signatures to a local petition, the recommendation comes as a mounting number of residents share their stories and express their concern over the public health and environmental threats of a potential plan to double the size of the Ridge Breeze Dairy operation in Salem township. 

“We need effective ordinances to protect our families’ clean water, air and land. The Land Conservation committee led with its mission on Tuesday by voting to recommend the Moratorium,” said Pierce County resident Doug Weiss, who joined with neighbors to organize for the Moratorium and a CAFO operating ordinance in Pierce County. “Now, it’s up to all our County Board members to pass the moratorium and investigate the impacts of the potential expansion to a more than 5000 head operation. The well at our farm, which was safe and clean for years and years, recently became contaminated with nitrates from run off.  Many neighbors’ wells have also become nitrate contaminated, and it is likely that many more families here and in neighboring counties will be forced to pay thousands of dollars to mitigate nitrate runoff and be able to drink safe, clean water from their faucets. Before we head in such a direction, the communities of Pierce County deserve an opportunity to explore measures that will protect our health, homes, and families.”

Ridge Breeze Dairy was recently acquired by the eastern Wisconsin company, Breeze Dairy Group. Representatives from Breeze have claimed that concerns over human and environmental impacts have been exaggerated. However, community residents point out CAFO impacts across the state like in Kewaunee county, an area with similarly fractured karst bedrock as Pierce County, where private well contamination associated with cow manure is causing 250 cases of illness per year.

Next month, Pierce county residents will be able to learn more about the impacts of expansions to large factory farms like the one Breeze Dairy Group is proposing , at free screenings of the documentary “Right to Harm,” Tuesday, July 11th, from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm at the River Falls Public Library and Wednesday, July 12th, from 6 pm to 8 pm at the Spring Valley Public Library. The documentary explores the stories behind industrial farming and its impact on rural communities.  After the screening, there will be a discussion about the grassroots campaign in Pierce County to pass a moratorium and related ordinances, as well as information about how to get involved. Community members can learn more and reserve their seats for River Falls here and for Spring Valley here.

WHAT: “Right to Harm” Screening and Community CAFO Discussion

WHO: All Residents of Pierce and adjoining Counties

WHEN: Tuesday, July 11th, from 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm and Wednesday, July 12th, from 6 pm – 8 pm

WHERE: Tuesday at the River Falls Public Library and Wednesday at the Spring Valley Public Library