Bill to prevent local restrictions on large farms supported by ag interests

Some of Wisconsin’s largest agricultural interest groups supported legislation passed  by the state Senate Tuesday that would prevent local governments from creating agriculture-related regulations that are stricter than the state’s, according to an analysis of lobbying records by the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign. 

The legislation passed both chambers of the Legislature on voice votes. State lobbying records show the bill was supported by industry groups including the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation, Dairy Business Association, Venture Dairy Co-op and the Wisconsin Corn Growers Association. Four animal welfare groups, including The Humane Society of the United States and the Great Lakes Wildlife Alliance, opposed the bill. 

Supporters of the bill said the measure was necessary after California enacted a rule that requires breeding farm animals to be given more space. The bill is also a response to efforts in the Polk County town of Laketown to pass ordinances regulating odor, pollution and other issues associated with factory farms. Polk County has seen a number of local fights over agricultural regulations because of a proposal to construct the state’s largest hog operation in nearby Trade Lake. 

A suit was filed against Laketown by Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce, the state’s largest business lobby. The community ended the regulations after new town board members were elected. 

The agricultural interest groups that supported the bill have donated more than $3 million to legislators and legislative campaign committees in the past decade, with a vast majority of that money going to Republicans. Sen. Howard Marklein (R-Spring Green), the co-chair of the powerful Joint Committee on Finance, received more donations from the agricultural groups than Assembly and Senate Democratic campaign committees combined. The four animal welfare groups have given a combined$662 during that same period.