Paul Zimmerman, Executive Director of Governmental Relations for the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation, says there are many questions about wolf management. “With the wolf being delisted — and legislation and the DNR looking to implement how to manage the wolf population in the state — it’d be an excellent time for farmers … to talk to their legislators about what’s going on.”

Zimmerman says another highlight at the annual gathering is the never-ending election season. He says Joe Murray, Director of Governmental Relations for the Wisconsin Realtors Association, is an expert on the history of elections and campaigns in Wisconsin. He’ll give keynote presentation on the current election climate in the Badger State. “We have redistricting taking place this year, historic recall of the governor taking place, along with open U.S. Senate seat, and a presidential election taking place, so we just thought it would be really good information for farmers across the state to get.”

Other big issues for the $60 billion industry include food security, trade, and the U.S. farm bill. Also on the docket are legislative issues such as wetlands, air emissions, and livestock siting. Jeff Lyon, Deputy Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, will also be a featured speaker.

One in ten jobs in Wisconsin is related to agriculture.

Ag Day at the Capitol is Wednesday, February 8th at the Monona Terrace.

AUDIO: Jackie Johnson report 1:42

Spokesman Casey Langan says the proposed rule changes will “drastically reduce the amount of work that youth can do on farms.” The Bureau is concerned the proposals will make managing family farms more difficult.

Among the proposed regulations is restricting the operation of power-driven machines to those 16 and older.

US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has defended the proposals. He’s argues that, while only 4-percent of working youth are in the farming sector, 40-percent of the fatalities among working kids are associated with machines, equipment, or facilities related to agriculture.

AUDIO: Brian Moon reports (1:01)

State agriculture officials have tried for some time to get Vernon Hershberger of Loganville to stop selling unpasteurized milk. He faces four misdemeanor charges in Sauk County of not being licensed for a dairy plant, a milk producer, and a retail eatery. He’s also charged with violating state food holding orders. He says no licenses exist to let him sell raw milk, and that’s why he doesn’t have them.

John Peck, Executive Director of Family Farm Defenders, was among the dozens who rallied at the courthouse in support of the Hershberger. He says Hershberger does not sell to the general public but rather through a buying club that is equivalent to members being “shareholders.”

AUDIO: Peck taking issue with current state law (:25)

In 2010, then-Governor Jim Doyle vetoed a bill that would have legalized raw milk sales. Supporters say raw milk is healthier than the pasteurized product. But opponents say drinking raw milk increases the risk of getting salmonella or E-coli bacteria — and just one case could threaten Wisconsin’s worldwide reputation as America’s Dairyland.

Hershberger has not entered pleas to his new charges. He’s due back in court January 30th.

The Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters is opposing AB 165 saying runoff from the chemical leads to algae-choked, stinky lakes. “It goes a long way to deter tourism we’ve worked so hard to attract from Illinois and other parts of the country,” says Program Director Anne Sayers.

The bill would allow retailers to display phosphorus fertilizers but require a sign specifying legal guidelines for use of the chemical. Phosphorus can only be applied to grass in special circumstances such as commercial use.

But the League is concerned these circumstance can lead to confusion and “may result in people accidentally buying it for use on their own lawns.”

The state Senate Agriculture, Forestry, and Higher Education Committee is taking up the bill.

Langan said that’s why the state needs to be investing in the next generation of farmers by supporting related programs within high school, university and university extension levels. 

The group says research shows the general public is not concerned of the issue of food security.

“During a time of economic distress they’re probably more concerned about paying for their own grocery bill,” said Langan. “But that doesn’t wash away this big issue of food security we face in the world.”

Technological advances in farming are a key in food security because “they’re not making any more land.”

Owner Todd Tuls says it’s good to finally have farm operations getting underway. The $30 million project was approved earlier this year, with construction starting over the summer. Wednesday will be the first day of full operations.

AUDIO: Todd Tuls (:13)

Tuls says some non-milk producing cows were moved in weeks ago to “take the shine” off the farm, reducing the chances of the new cows “getting spooked.”

At peak production, the farm will be milking 5,200 cows each day.

Beth Wheelock, WCLO

Participant Kathy Pirtle long suffered from chronic pain and digestive issues. At that time, the Illinois woman switched to grass-fed beef and raw milk, which she claims “saved my life.”

AUDIO: Pirtle on her road to recovery with raw milk (1:48)

Critics of unpasteurized milk say it can cause illness, birth defects, in some cases death.

The protesters are knowingly violating federal law by their action. “If people have any kind of interference with the police then so be it. But we are protesting the interference with our human rights and we need to demonstrate that this is wrong,” said Pirtle, referring to crackdowns on small farmers selling raw dairy.

An email to FDA public affairs on possible intervention was not returned. The agency website states, “the FDA has never taken, nor does it intend to take, enforcement action against an individual” who purchased and transported raw milk across state lines solely for his or her own personal consumption.”

The governor this week sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, requesting disaster declarations covering ginseng crops in Lincoln and Marathon counties and soybean crops in Burnett and Polk counties.

In the letter, Governor Walker says above normal rainfall earlier this year, along with cold temperatures in September, delayed planting of crops and cut short the harvest in those areas. Walker says that resulted in crop losses as high as 75-percent for some ginseng farmers and 36-percent for soybean operations.

The disaster declarations would allow farmers in the named counties, along with adjacent locations, to apply for low-interest loans.

AUDIO: Bob Clarke interview (6:40)

Kaukauna-based Milk Source is the applicant for the dairy. Milk Source partner Jim Ostrom noted that the process for approval of Richfield Dairy has included more than a dozen permits and approvals. “Our permit application has received an extraordinary amount of scrutiny and review. We know we have met and exceeded all the standards to have a dairy that will be one of the most environmentally friendly dairies not only in Wisconsin but in the country,” Ostrom said in a statement. 

 ”This is not a family farm question. This is really a factory,” Clark claimed. Clarke’s group has filed a lawsuit in Dane County Court, along with a request for a Contested Case hearing, claiming the dairy and its associated wells could have a serious negative impact on groundwater resources.

The state’s favorable policy toward factory farming – at the expense of more “sustainable operations – will be discussed says Edie Ehlert of the Network’s steering committee. She calls it a “bi-partisan” issue stemming from the Livestock Siting Law of 2006 under the Doyle administration. Ehlert adds the Walker administration is speeding up processing of permits rather than looking at potential impacts from each application.

Ehlert emphasizes the forum is about participation where everyone is free to discuss ideas.

The Wisconsin Forum on Rural and Urban Agriculture at UW-Madison kicks off tonight with keynote speaker John Ikerd, an agricultural economist from the University of Missouri. The gathering runs through Saturday.

AUDIO: Brian Moon reports