Wisconsin


Information and Resources

America’s Animal Factories: How States Fail to Prevent Pollution from Livestock Waste

This Natural Resources Defense Council report describes the environmental and public health impacts of pollution generated by factory farms. Includes activist contacts and resources.

Anti-Corporate Farming Laws in the Heartland (1997)

Impact of Anti-Corporate Farming Laws in Wisconsin

  • The number of farms dropped from 178,000 farms (1910) to 78,000 (1998)
  • The number of farms dropped from 80,000 (1993) to 78,000 (1998)
  • The Average size of farms dropped from 213.8 acres (1993) to 210.3 acres (1998)
  • The number of Small Sales Class farms increased from 30,500 farms to 34,000 farms (1993-1998); Middle Sales Class farms decreased from 32,000 farms to 25,500 farms; Large Sales Class farms increased from 17,500 farms to 18,500 farms
  • Source: Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund

The Izaak Walton League’s Fish Kill Advisory Network (FKAN)

The FKAN maintains a searchable database of fish kills and manure spills in the Upper Mississippi River Basin states (IL, IA, MN, MO, and WI). All records in the database have been verified by state agencies, and have been compiled on a map of fish kills and manure spills in the region.

The Milking of the Public: Wisconsin’s Cost-Share Program for Farm Pollution

Using case studies, this report highlights how Wisconsin has funded the spread of large-scale livestock facilities through subsidies, in this case a program aimed at reducing farm pollution. (Midwest Environmental Advocates, December 2000)

Organic Valley

Organic dairy and meats, plus a newsletter and activist resources for promoting connections between urban and rural communities.

State Information

Provides state legislative information along with documents related to state and local government. (Washburn University School of Law)

US Farms – State Fact Sheets

Links for each state, with current information about farm size, financial status, rural employment, land use, and more. (USDA)

Water Quality in the Upper Mississippi River Basin, Minnesota, Wisconsin, South Dakota, Iowa, and North Dakota, 1995-98

Water quality assessment reports from the US Geological Survey.

Who is Guarding Our Waters?

A report about the Wisconsin DNR’s enforcement of water pollution laws. Wisconsin lost between 14 and 284 million dollars in 1998 alone by failing to prosecute facilities that significantly violated state water pollution laws. (Midwest Environmental Advocates, January 28, 2002)

State and Local Government

Groups

Family Farm Defenders

FFD is a coalition of groups and individual activists who are opposed to factory farming and the use of GMOs and artificial hormones in agriculture. They also produce their own hormone-free cheese (Family Farm brand) and support farmers’ right to fair prices and consumers’ right to know what goes into the food they eat.

Midwest Environmental Advocates

The first environmental law center in Wisconsin, MEA is a legal and technical resource center for community groups across Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Upper Michigan who are working for environmental justice. Also operates as a clearinghouse to connect community groups to pro bono and low-cost legal services provided by attorneys who have joined MEA’s Advocacy Network.

Northwest Environmental Defense Center

Currently fighting a large hog farm in Oregon. They also provide legal services for all sorts of environmental causes.

Wisconsin Citizen Action

The Family Farm Stewardship Campaign seeks to promote state policy that protects family farms and the environment. America’s Dairyland is a family farm state. Ninety-five percent of our livestock operations have fewer than 200 head. But Wisconsin is losing its family farms at a rate of 4-5 per day! The Family Farm Stewardship Campaign brings together farm, faith, consumer, and environmental organizations to educate the public and advocate. The Campaign recently delivered six thousand handwritten letters to the Wisconsin State Legislature asking for passage of a comprehensive Family Farm Protection Act.

Wisconsin Stewardship Network – Factory Farm Page

Wisconsin industrial farming information and links to other resources.

Regulations

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