By a vote of 7-0 Friday the Wisconsin Livestock Siting Review Board reversed a Crawford County decision to grant a permit to allow the expansion of the A.V. Roth hog operation near Wauzeka. The vote was conducted during a public hearing in Madison.

The Board reviewed the application for facility expansion prepared by Roth Feeder Pigs, Inc., and decided that portions of it were inconsistent, and expressed concerns with regard to the nutrient management data submitted by Roth.

In January, the Crawford County Land Conservation Committee had voted 6-0 with two abstentions to approve of Roth’s application and granted him a permit. Friday’s vote by the Livestock Siting Review Broad reverses the decision by Crawford County.

This reversal is an apparent victory for the 28 people within two miles of the Roth farm who had filed an appeal with the Livestock Siting Review Board. One landowner who lives near the Roth farm, Ron Stadler, had filed his own separate appeal.

The victory may be short lived, however, because the Board’s decision is not yet official and they have not sent out an official notice informing Crawford County. The Siting Review Board is scheduled to approve of its minutes at a May 16 meeting. Also, in response to the Board’s vote, Roth has filed a "request for reconsideration" on the basis of errors in fact. Roth said that he feels confident that when the Board reviews his request that he will be granted a new hearing and that the Board will uphold his permit to expand.

"I was very shocked by the outcome," said Roth, "because I did a lot of research in order to do everything right according to state standards." Roth said that unfortunately, the Board based its decision on a misinterpretation of the number of "animal units" in his application as compared to his nutrient management plan.

"The Board rightly found this facility’s plan to pollute unacceptable," said Jamie Saul, staff attorney with Midwest Environmental Advocates, who had filed the appeal on behalf of the 28 neighbors. "It was clear from the start that this facility’s application did not meet the standards for nutrient management required by state law."

The appeal filed by Midwest Environmental Advocates on behalf of the 29 neighbors asserted that portions of the application submitted by Roth did not meet the state standards for nutrient management, and thus put local drinking water and the Wisconsin River at risk for nitrate, phosphorous, and bacteria contamination.

"We are pleased that the Board took an in-depth look at the application and made the right decision," said Bob Lenz, one of the 28 neighbors who were named in the appeal. Concerned neighbors and members of the Crawford Stewardship Project worked hard gathering information in an effort to present compelling testimony regarding possible environmental and public health risks associated with the proposed Roth hog expansion to the Crawford County Land Conservation Committee.

"The Crawford Stewardship Project is very pleased that the Board took its role seriously, looked at the record objectively, and by reversing the County’s decision took a stance to protect our air and water as required by law," said Jennifer Nelson of the Crawford Stewardship Project.

In filing his request for reconsideration, Roth said that the Board misinterpreted the 1,703 animal units that he listed on his application and the 850 animal units that are listed on his SnapPlus nutrient management plan. The animal units listed on his application would represent all hogs on his farm including boars, sows, gilts and piglets. A question on the SnapPlus nutrient management plan asks for the number of gestating sows and sows with litters only. Roth said that the two different numbers are asked of an applicant for two different reasons and are like comparing apples to oranges. He said that the estimated amount of manure in his nutrient management plan takes into account all of the hogs on his farm, all 1,703 animal units. Roth said that he feels that the Board misinterpreted the numbers and assumed that the amount of manure would be double of the amount listed, when in fact it would not. They therefore made their decision based upon misunderstanding, he said. Roth said that if he had had the opportunity to speak, he could have easily cleared up any misunderstanding, just as he did at the Crawford County Land Conservation Committee meeting back in January.

The Livestock Siting Review Board has in fact said that the amount of manure (or nutrients) listed in Roth’s nutrient management plan is in line with the number of acres, 181.

Jane Larson, a spokesperson for DATCP, of which the Review Board is a part, said that the Board also feels that Roth’s odor management plan is sound.

Larson said that if the Board rules that Roth’s request for reconsideration is valid, they will then send his request to Midwest Environmental Advocates, Crawford County and all other relevant parties for review. The matter would then be acted upon at the May 16 meeting. The Board could then uphold their original decision, or it could reverse itself and grant Roth’s permit.

If the Board upholds its original decision, Roth could then create a new nutrient management plan and re-apply for a permit from Crawford County. If the Board reverses its decision, Midwest Environmental Advocates and the parties they represent could appeal the matter to Crawford County Circuit Court.

Roth said that he as applied for a wastewater discharge permit from the Department of Natural Resources, which is mandatory for all livestock operations that house 1,000 animal units or more on site.

Roth said that he will continue to try to be a good neighbor and has talked to some of his neighbors in an attempt to address their concerns.

"I will continue to address their concerns to the best of my ability," he said, in noting that he has been looking at an ongoing Iowa study regarding odor and ways to reduce it. "I’ve been looking into all possibilities, including a possible digester," he said.

Roth said that he also feels that many of his neighbors have been made to believe that his proposed expansion will absolutely be a pollution problem.

"That’s the last thing I ever want to do is pollute," said Roth. "Runoff is the most important consideration and that’s why we go to so much effort to make a good nutrient management plan." Roth also said that he would very much welcome a Karst geological study in Crawford County.

There is no charge to the patient for use of a monitor, but the patient must require skilled home health care as ordered by a physician, and must be confined to the home.

At some time in the future, the staff hopes to be able to offer these services to the general public as a private pay option. "It would be comforting to a son or daughter who has moved away, for example, to know that someone is checking on the health of an ailing parent," said Groom.

She was recognized and followed to her place of residence where she was apprehended. No weapon was found.

A study released early this month, 2008 Burden of Diabetes in Wisconsin, shows the prevalence of the disease in Wisconsin adults has increased 27 percent from 2005. According to the study, almost 10 percent of the adults in Wisconsin have diabetes, and many of them are not even aware they have it.

The report says that related societal costs have also increased in that time, with diabetes-related hospitalizations increasing nearly 11 percent, related hospitalization charges increasing more than 48 percent, and overall estimated costs of diabetes in adults increasing 16 percent.

"These dramatic increases significantly demonstrate the need for intensified attention to diabetes prevention and control in Wisconsin," said David Scheidt, OD, vice chairman of Wisconsin’s Diabetes Advisory Group.

Nancy Stuart, RN, certified diabetes educator at Gundersen Lutheran Clinic in Prairie du Chien, said she did not have any statistics directly relating to Crawford County, but assumed the figures would be similar to the state figures

Stuart feels the new study, startling though it is, is probably a combination of bad news/good news. The bad news is that too many people have poor eating habits and get little exercise—key factors in the development of diabetes.

The good news, however, is that she feels part of the reason for the increase has been simply that individuals and their doctors are more aware of the disease and monitor for it more closely, thus resulting in increased detection.

Stuart facilitates a weekly diabetes support group, open to anyone who would like to attend. Last week, Prairie du Chien residents Ken Otteson and Dorothy Harris came to the meeting and shared their experience with diabetes.

Diabetes can, indeed, be a terrible disease, and untreated can lead to heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, neuropathy (nerve endings that die), blindness and even death.

However, if identified and treated, it can be a very manageable disease. Harris, Otteson and Stuart, who is also diabetic, talked about what it is like to live—and live well—with diabetes.

Stuart has lived with diabetes for 31 years. She has Type 1 diabetes, which used to be called childhood or insulin-dependent diabetes. Neither term is accurate, however. Stuart developed it at the age of 24, and there have been examples of people in their 30s developing Type 1. Neither is it correct to refer to it as an insulin-dependent form, since many people with Type 2 must also use insulin. As in her situation, when she woke up needing the bathroom and feeling as if she had the flu, there is usually a sudden onset of Type 1. Since she was employed at Gundersen-Lutheran, Dr. Michael Garrity, for whom she worked, immediately ordered testing and the disease was identified.

Ken Otteson has had diabetes for about 15 years. He has Type 2, but didn’t really recognize any warning signs until, as he puts it, "I felt like hell one day." He walked into the emergency room at Memorial Hospital and spent the next four days in intensive care. His blood sugar was 500 (an ideal blood sugar is in the 70 to 99 range) and his blood pressure was 200/100. Otteson now watches his diet, tries to walk at least half an hour a day, and takes medication, but does not require insulin. His brother, he said, has lost part of his leg due to diabetes, and his son developed Type 1 as a college student.

Dorothy Harris believes it’s been about five years since she developed Type 2 diabetes. It was identified when she changed doctors after the death of her previous doctor. She believes that because of her family history the doctor was watching for it.

All three talked about living with diabetes and the lifestyle adjustments they have made. One thing emerges very clearly: although it may have been forced on them, they are following a healthy living regimen—good nutrition, exercise and a positive attitude toward life in general.

Stuart’s diabetes actually brought about a career change for her. When she was diagnosed, she had to learn and work through the challenges on her own. She went back to school, obtained her RN degree and became an educator. "I knew what it was like to find out you have diabetes and not have any help with it," she says.

"When I was first diagnosed I didn’t want anyone else to know," said Harris. "Then my doctor told me that was the wrong thing to do; it’s important that people around you know you are." If a diabetic’s blood sugar drops too much, the person may become disoriented and sometimes, said Harris, may appear to be drunk. Otteson said he has learned to recognize the symptoms when his blood sugar drops, and carries glucose tablets with him, but many people can’t tell. As a precaution, all three wear tags to indicate they’re diabetic. Harris and Otteson wear the tag as a bracelet; Stuart has hers on a chain around her neck.

At the support groups, talk often turns to food and its preparation, said Stuart. Surprisingly, at least to an observer, there’s no talk of self-denial but of discovery of new tastes and yes, even indulgences. It is not correct, said Stuart, to say that diabetics cannot have sweets; they simply have to plan for that in their diet. And, she added, it isn’t just the sweets and desserts; it’s obesity from all the snacking: "If you follow a good meal plan you can have cake every day if you want to."

Harris avoids some of the sweets issue by baking using Splenda, a sugar substitute. Otteson said he does try to avoid cakes and pies, but eats such things as sugar free ice cream and cookies. His wife, he said, has helped him eat better by baking or broiling food instead of frying it.

Harris enthused over her culinary discoveries, especially vegetables: "I never thought I’d like brussels sprouts, but I tried them and I do." She roasts many of her vegetables, finding it brings out the flavor, and has found "there’s nothing better than roast parsnips. They have a sweet taste."

The biggest problem with food, said Harris, is often the well-intentioned friend or hostess who presses desserts on people with the phrase, "come on, one piece won’t hurt you." "You know your own limits," said Harris, "and sometimes you just want to kick them in the teeth."

Diabetes is self-monitored by testing blood sugar using a small lancet and a meter. The monitoring has come a long way, Stuart said. When she was first diagnosed there were no blood sugar tests. The first ones developed took two minutes or more. Now, the meters can get a reading in five seconds.

Testing time and frequency vary from person to person. Harris said she sometimes tests once a day and sometimes at every meal as a check on her eating patterns. "I always check before I have to drive anyplace out of town," she adds.

For those who take insulin, there is more than one method of delivery. Injection is still the most common, but here are also insulin pumps. However, said Stuart, unless covered by insurance they are still expensive.

Living with diabetes does not mean the end of the world. However, leading a healthy lifestyle before diagnosis can in many cases prevent development of Type 2, and exercise and healthy eating are the key. Because there often are no obvious symptoms with Type Two, anyone concerned about it should request a blood sugar test. A blood sugar reading between 100 and 125, said Stuart, is considered pre-diabetic and is reversible at that point in about half of the people if they start changes in their lifestyle.

Diabetes is officially diagnosed only after two fasting blood sugars of 126 or greater. The treatment is the same for everyone: diet, exercise, medication if necessary, monitoring blood sugar and education.