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Wisconsin legislators reject Governor’s CAFO move study

Wisconsin State Capitol

Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker’s plan to change which state agency regulates concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) is not popular with legislators.

Wis. Gov. Scott Walker

Walker’s budget plan included a study about moving the regulation and permitting of CAFO’s from the state Natural Resources department to the Ag department.  The Senate and Assembly’s Joint Finance Committee tossed that item out during its budget discussions. The budget committee also eliminated Walker’s plan to dissolve the Bioenergy Council.

Moving CAFO oversight to the ag department is supported by Wisconsin’s Dairy Business Association.  Several environmental groups oppose the change and want DNR staffing levels improved to handle the CAFO permitting and enforcement.  Now, ag department and DNR officials both handle farm manure management plans, with the DNR handling the larger facilities.

The Joint Finance Committee has cut nearly 80 non-fiscal policy recommendations from Walkers 2017-1019 biennial budget plan.

 

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