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Northeast Wisconsin Considers Itself the "Heart of the Wisconsin Dairy Industry" By Linda Stoll, Outreach Specialist Most counties in northeast Wisconsin are on the "top ten counties list" for cows per acre. The area has approximately one-third of all permitted livestock facilities in the state as well as the greatest concentration of digesters and manure burning facilities. Agricultural expansion continues to take place, especially in clusters around permitted farms. While the region is losing small farms, it is gaining cows and increasing milk production. This production supports many cheese factories including the largest plant in the state. The number of specialty farms that focus on rotational grazing, organic production, and direct sales to consumers is also increasing. For the region, the economic impact of agriculture is measured in the billions of dollars.
Need for Protection While this information paints a positive picture for agriculture in the region, nearly 9,000 acres of farmland were converted to other uses in Winnebago, Outagamie, Calumet, and Waupaca counties between 1990 and 2002. This equates to roughly 13 square miles, or the areas of the cities of Neenah and Menasha combined. Low-density subdivisions and strip malls are spreading into agricultural areas driving up the cost of land. This provides farmers with an incentive to sell and a disincentive to expand or continue in agriculture. Areas with high development pressure are struggling with working land fragmentation. Even with protective measures, they may not be able to preserve large blocks of farm and forest land that can support productive use. Conflicts between new residents and farms are also increasing and expected to continue unless further protections are put in place. Environmental Issues Environmental concerns also add to the complexity of farm management. In general, Northeast Wisconsin has very tight clay soils making erosion and storm water runoff a serious issue. Water bodies suffer from excess nutrients and agriculture is a primary contributor. The presence of fractured bedrock and contaminated groundwater has resulted in winter manure spreading restrictions and is financially impacting farms. Community Response Through local comprehensive planning processes, many counties and towns in the region have identified agriculture as an important issue and are targeting areas to support working lands. They are considering agricultural zoning, right-to-farm ordinances, purchase of development rights (PDR) programs, and cluster subdivision design as possible tools to guide development and protect working lands. Some of these tools already exist; however, enforcement has varied across the region. Other communities are placing less emphasis on land restrictions and instead, are allowing local markets to drive land use. Regional Efforts There is increasing realization that no single agency or governmental unit can solve agricultural issues in Northeast Wisconsin on their own. Communities are exploring opportunities to create PDR programs at the regional level. In fragmented land areas, specialty farming is being promoted because it can function on smaller parcels. The creation of an agriculture enterprise zone that covers parts of two counties is also being considered. New North, an economic development organization in Northeast Wisconsin has recently added an agriculture subcommittee to its program in recognition of the importance agribusiness plays in the region�s economy. These efforts reflect a positive outlook for farming in Northeast Wisconsin.
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