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Part 1
By Dave Collins
On a beautiful 1100 foot ridge overlooking the Kickapoo River might be the last place to expect a proposed concentrated hog operation. The land along Harvest Ln. is very vulnerable Karst geology with sinkholes, a spring, and a cave. The hog waste will be spread in these porous Karst areas. A totally inappropriate place to propose a concentrated hog operation.
The following was written by Dr. Ann Ralles, Faculty Advisor School of Socio-Economics & Ecology at NewEarth University:
“My home is “The Driftless” area in Southwestern Wisconsin. A one hundred square mile geographic anomaly, this beguiling jewel of hills and coulees, cold water springs and trout-filled streams was untouched by the glaciers of the last ice age. Hence, the lack of glacial drift or simply “The Driftless”.
Unsuitable for gigantic factory farms that consume much of the paper-flat Midwest, our rolling hills are still dotted with picturesque family farms and organic dairies.
The Driftless is a Karstic geography characterized by soluble limestone that erodes to form caves, caverns, underground streams and springs that make it hospitable to diverse lifeforms. There seems to be a special, almost magical quality to this land and many claim that they were inexplicably drawn here.”
On a global scale, we are daily horrified with stories of our environment under siege in so many ways. We expect someone to make it better, but each day the reports are more dire. Now, a 10,000 animal unit consolidated hog operation is proposed in our backyard. This assault on our beautiful Driftless area brings the problem to our homes. We are the ones who need to stand-up and say 'no' to CAFO's in our geographically sensitive area.
Marietta Township will have a special meeting July 15th at 7 p.m. at the recycling center (Plainview Ridge Rd & Hwy E) to discuss this proposed land use. It is your chance to protect your environment.
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