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Farmers have concerns as state considers new permitting rules for livestock operations

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Public hearings have begun on changing state regulations on Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations, or CAFOS. Proposed changes to Wisconsin’s livestock facility siting regulations, known as ATCP51 include eliminating odor scoring, changing building setbacks standards and more opportunities for local governments to restrict farm expansion.

Peter Koles with the Wisconsin Towns Association supports the proposed changes. “The equipment has gotten bigger. So you have bigger equipment, more repetitive trips. And we need to take into account that impact on the roadways.”

Raymond Hansen of Wautoma chairs the Central Sands Water Coalition, and testified that where CAFO’s exist, water quality problems soon follow. John Holevoet with the Dairy Business Association said the proposed regulations won’t improve water quality. “If you think you’re going to get better water quality by pushing animal agriculture out, you’re wrong. What you’re going to be left with is probably as bad of an environmental situation, if not worse.”

Several dairy farmers told the hearing, which was held in Oshkosh on Friday, that the existing rule is better, and that changes allowing more local government oversight would defeat the purpose of having the statewide guidelines.

Larry Lee, Brownfield 

 

Farmers need to work together during Chinese embargo, says head of soybean association

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State agricultural leaders are looking to help farmers after China announced a full stoppage of agricultural imports.

Wisconsin Soybean Association director Bob Karls says he and his colleagues are already hard at work in the halls of Congress. 

“Our legislators, our elected congresspersons and senators know the issues this causes us, they have talked to the administration.”

They aren’t hopeful right now. “There’s just many angles, and we don’t see it improving. We see things more or less going the opposite direction.”

Karls says they’re also keeping in contact with their farmers in Wisconsin and keeping an eye on them. He reminds farmers to check up on each other and find ways to help keep their stress down.

“We are concerned for some farmers that are having some stresses, and encourage them to talk to people. Mental health is far more important. 

He says one bright side this season is that there’s expected to be a strong harvest, which means plenty of product coming this fall. 

 

Foxconn execs meet meet with Evers and legislative leaders

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Wisconsin’s top elected officials met with Foxconn Technology Group executives on Wednesday. As for what they discussed, not much is known. A Foxconn spokeswoman issued a statement saying only that Foxconn Chairman Young Liu was meeting with Governor Tony Evers, state and local officials, and members of Wisconsin’s higher education community.

Evers’ spokeswoman, Melissa Baldauff, said Evers met separately with the Foxconn execs. She told the Wisconsin State Journal that Evers wants to build a relationship with Liu, who took over after former chairman Terry Gou decided to run for president in Taiwan.


Assembly Speaker Robin Vos tweeted that he and Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald met with Foxconn execs and got an update on the company’s future plans. He didn’t elaborate. Spokespeople for both lawmakers provided no additional details.

Oshkosh arena lawsuits headed to court hearing

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A lawsuit by builders and investors against the Menominee Nation Arena in Oshkosh is complicated by the fact that the city’s redevelopment authority still owns the land under the building. That’s preventing Bayland Buildings from placing a standard lien on the arena. City attorney Lynn Lorenson explained why Oshkosh still owns the land.

“That was done just as a means to allow for the completion of some of the environmental remediation on the property. The city needed to stay as owner of the property while that was being done.”

Lorenson said the city bears no liability in the lawsuits against Fox Valley Pro Basketball. She also said the Menominee Nation, which holds the naming rights for the arena, remains committed. “So I think there’s a very strong support for the continued operation of the arena. It’s just a matter that a matter of getting that financing issue resolved.”

A hearing on Monday in Winnebago County court will determine if the arena – home to the Milwaukee Herd of the NBA’s G League – should be placed in receivership while those lawsuits play out.

WHBY

Attorney General Kaul joins lawsuit against ‘dirty power rule’

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AG Josh Kaul

Attorney General Josh Kaul has announced that Wisconsin is suing the federal Environmental Protection Agency over efforts to roll back Obama-era climate protections. In all, officials in 22 states argue the Trump administration’s Affordable Clean Energy Rule violates the federal Clean Air Act.

“Climate change is not only real; it’s a crisis,” said Kaul. “We’re only beginning to see its effects, including severe flooding and extreme temperatures. We can’t afford to wait for 20 years or a decade to take meaningful action. We need to step up now and to start responding to the climate crisis like our kids’ future depends on it—because it does.”

The Affordable Clean Energy plan eased carbon emission limits on fossil-fuel power plants proposed — but never implemented — during the Obama administration.

Evers tells business leaders state’s workforce will need to diversify

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What keeps Governor Tony Evers awake nights? In a word, workforce. The governor tells the state largest business group. “Just my observation, the state of Wisconsin has a lot of people that look like me and are about as old as me. And I can also guarantee you that with that background, we’re not going to have enough people.”

The governor said that’s the case, even if everyone in the pool of potential workers is trained and employed.

Evers told members of Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce he’s convinced more people will come to Wisconsin. “But we also have to recognize that if we do that, the workforce might look a little different than it does now.”

Evers said that means diversity and inclusiveness are critical in the workplace. The governor spoke at WMC’s Policy Day event in Madison on Tuesday. He was not available for questions from reporters after his remarks.

Georgia Pacific puts Green Bay expansion plans on hold

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Georgia Pacific Corporation has put plans for a 458,000 square foot expansion at its Green Bay plant on hold. The Green Bay Planning Commission was scheduled to discuss the plans Monday night. The company sent a letter saying it decided to indefinitely postpone the project.

Georgia-Pacific wants the request held on file for possible future action, indicating the idea isn’t dead. The company was going to streamline its paper production process by adding equipment and buildings to the location on the banks of the Fox River.

Keep a close eye on your money for back-to-school shopping

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It’s back to school season, and that means shopping to get your student ready for the year. But be sure you’re getting exactly what you need.

State consumer protection administrator Michelle Reinen says it’s important to always check out exactly what you’re getting in a deal, especially on things like electronics.

“Reading the fine print or the details, if you will, to understand what it is you would be purchasing to see if you need all the bells and whistles that one product might include.”

You also want to be careful with buying the full list of school supplies from a school. You might have a number of those items left over from last year, or even from another child in your home.

“So being sure it doesn’t already exist in your household, or maybe some other family member has it from an older cousin or something.”

Reinen says many parents will turn to outlet stores to help buy clothes during school sales, but you need to keep a close eye on just what you’re getting. 

“You might think you’re getting a great deal on a jacket, but if you look at the outlet version of that jacket it may not have a full lining in it. It might only be in the body area, not in the arms.”

You can find more tips on back to school shopping online at http://datcp.wi.gov.

Sushi condiment cause of fire at two Madison restaurants

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The Madison fire department is putting out a warning to Japanese and sushi restaurants after two of them had fires this spring due to an unusual source.

Investigator Kara Nelson says the fires started when baskets of fried breading used to top sushi rolls caught on fire spontaneously. 

“A lot of us are very familiar with the process of spontaneous combustion. It happens with haystacks, it happens with mulch.”

Nelson says that the crumbs were fried and put into a colander to dry out, but were left hot overnight, catching on fire from the residual heat. They’re taking a closer look to try and see how these fires start and how they can be prevented. 

“Is it the type of oil that they’re using? Is it the temperature they’re cooking it at? Is it the batter they’re making? And this is out of our scope, this needs to go to a laboratory.”

She’s hoping that proper research will help business owners have a plan of best practices for dealing with the topping.

The two stores had combined damages of around 575-thousand dollars.

 

Kwik Trip enters CBD market

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Kwik Trip is selling products containing CBD. The La Crosse-based chain of convenience stores announced last week that it will sell lotions, creams, balms, and even vape pens which contain CBD.

Proponents of CBD say it can treat anxiety, relieve pain, and even clear up acne. It purportedly provides all the health benefits of cannabis, but not THC, the chemical in marijuana that gets you high.-