MADISON – Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation President Kevin Krentz issued the following statement regarding a pending lawsuit challenging the lawfulness of the Town of Laketown’s ordinance restricting farms in the township:
“Wisconsin Farm Bureau has joined the plaintiffs in the pending Polk County Circuit Court lawsuit challenging the lawfulness of an ordinance in the Town of Laketown that imposes severe licensing, regulatory and operational restrictions on farms. The ordinance imposes stringent restrictions and regulations on Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) and those who lease agricultural lands to them.
The ordinance violates Wisconsin’s livestock siting law and regulations adopted by the Wisconsin legislature and Wisconsin Department of Agriculture and Consumer Protection (DATCP). This is burdensome for farmers, landowners and taxpayers within the township and threatens the livelihood of Wisconsin farmers.
Wisconsin agriculture contributes $104.8 billion annually to Wisconsin’s economy; this ordinance threatens agriculture’s ability to remain efficient and profitable. The lawsuit seeks to invalidate the ordinance so agriculture can remain governed by Wisconsin’s uniform law.”
