To the editor,

We own our family farm near a planned CAFO (concentrated animal feeding operation) expansion in Pierce County. We are concerned about the expansion, not simply for us, but for all of Pierce County.

A CAFO is a large-scale milk-production operation in which animals are raised in confinement. These expansion plans would increase the CAFO to approximately 5,000 cows - making it one of the largest in the county. CAFO's have significant negative impacts on their communities’ roads, land, water, and air. Expansion also impacts land values, our family farms, and the rural life enjoyed in Pierce County.

Since 1990, the percentage of private wells in Pierce County that are nitrate contaminated (>10 mg/l) has risen dramatically from 8.8% to 16.6% in 2022 according to data from the Pierce County Land Conservation Department. I am not aware of any CAFO’s that existed in 1990, but we now have four CAFO’s in Pierce County.

Further CAFO expansion could lead to contamination of more private wells, a significant health risk for the citizens of Pierce, and neighboring counties.

Water contamination is also a concern for the Rush River, a Class A trout stream and Plum Creek/Nugget Lake, located in close proximity to multiple CAFOs.

Is it right to sacrifice basic rights of Pierce County citizens for the financial wealth of CAFO’s? “No.” Our farmers are vital to Wisconsin’s economy; we love our family farmers. But expansion of CAFO’s is not good for Pierce County. We need effective ordinances to protect our basic rights of clean water, air and land.

You can make a difference. Call your County Supervisor to express your opinion. They have the power to make a positive difference. Sign the online petition calling for a 12-month moratorium on CAFO expansions while the county learns how to implement more effective ordinances.

Doug & Nancy Weiss

River Falls