Livestock Factory Siting Standards

Midwest Environmental Advocates is working to protect you from toxic odors and air pollution from livestock factories in Wisconsin by advocating for standards to require meaningful reducations in odors and air pollution from livestock factories. MEA has already succeeded in convincing the DNR to regulate toxic air pollutntants like ammonia and hydrogen sulfide emissions from livestock factories by 2008 - click here to learn more.

On April 13, 2004, Governor Doyle signed Act 235, the Livestock Facilities Siting Act (otherwise known as the Factory Farm Siting Act).  Under this law, local governments that impose public health and safety regulations on livestock operations are required to apply uniform, statewide standards in granting local permits for those operations (with limited exceptions).  The law directed the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) to develop statewide siting standards by adopting administrative rules. 

On January 12, 2005, the DATCP Citizens' Board voted to send the "Proposed Livestock Facility Siting Rule" to public hearings. Twelve hearings at six locations will be held in mid-March, around the state. Revisions from the hearings will be incorporated into the next draft and submitted to the DATCP Citizens' Board for final action.

Click here to find the hearing location closest to you.

Click here to find out MEA's position on the proposed rules.

To read a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article about the siting standards, click here.

To find out more about why standards must ensure responsible manure management, click here to read about a fish kill of over 100 brown trout due to the winter spreading of manure.