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This summer we received a stark reminder that we need to do more to protect our lakes.   We saw Madison’s best beaches declared off limits and our lakes were so full of algae that we couldn’t fish in our favorite spots.

We need to address the biggest source of the problem: agricultural pollution from manure, pesticides and fertilizers. Unfortunately, large agribusinesses are determined to develop huge factory farms in Wisconsin that will only make the problem worse.

Right now, Rosendale Dairy near Oshkosh is seeking a permit to have 8,000 cows on one factory-scale farm. We’ve never seen anything like this in Wisconsin. It would generate 90 million gallons of manure every year. And unlike human waste, it won’t go through a wastewater treatment process.  Instead, it will be spread on the land and end up in our streams and drinking water.  

The Department of Natural Resources will soon decide whether Rosendale Dairy can expand. Big agribusinesses are pushing hard to develop Rosendale Dairy and others across the state. It’s time for us to stand up to them and say no to factory farms that threaten our waterways and public health.

Take Action

You can support our efforts by signing our petition to the Department of Natural Resources asking them to deny the expansion of Rosendale Dairy. 

Sign the petition here.

Background

Last March, after hearing from a groundswell of citizens across Wisconsin, the state Senate joined the Assembly in voting unanimously to approve legislation to restrict phosphorus in lawn fertilizer. Senate bill 5, authored by Sens. Mark Miller and Rob Cowles, was backed by numerous environmental and conservation groups including Wisconsin Environment as a common sense measure to help protect Wisconsin’s lakes from algae blooms. On April 14, Gov. Jim Doyle signed the bill into law.  This was an important step, but we need to do more to protect our lakes and streams, especially from agricultural runoff pollution.

Runoff pollution threatens 90 percent of Wisconsin’s lakes, and agriculture is the biggest source.

•    Agricultural runoff contaminates our drinking water, posing numerous health threats to the public.

•    Between 40 and 80 percent of the trout in a several-mile stretch of Black Earth Creek were killed as a result of animal waste.

But today, we have a chance to protect our lakes. By standing up to the powerful agribusinesses and stopping the development of factory farms in Wisconsin, we can preserve the lakes and small family farms that make Wisconsin special.