A major dairy farm operation in Rock County begins welcoming its first milk cows today. About 500 cows will be moving into their new home at the Rock Prairie Dairy in Bradford Township, the first of about 2,000 cows that will be at the facility by the end of the month.

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

A self-dubbed “loose coalition” of environmentalists, farmers and outdoor groups are hoping to tighten up their efforts as they gather for the first ever Sustain Rural Wisconsin Network forum in Madison.

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