Lake Superior neighbors organizing against massive pig farm

Ashland County activists - - fresh off barring miles of open-pit iron ore mines that would have irrevocably damaged the pristine Penokee Hills, and the nearby Bad River Ojibwe reservation and water supplies across a swath of northwestern Wisconsin - - are readying local government action against yet another major environmental threat: a massive pig feeding operation that is within air-and-water fouling distance of Lake Superior.

The Ashland County Board has voted to direct its staff to develop a proposal for a two-year moratorium on large animal farms amid concerns about pollution from a huge proposed hog farm just a few miles from Lake Superior.

Note that the hog farm would be called "Badgerwood," conjuring certainly a different image than what 26,000+ pigs, their feeding operation and millions of gallons of manure spread across nearby acreage would more accurately look, feel and smell like.

Some history from this blog is here - - and don't forget that the current DNR in Wisconsin is being intentionally managed on behalf of big business, has been particularly weak when regulating water in the public interest, and has declined strong oversight of large cattle feeding/manure-spreading operations statewide that are leaving neighbors with contaminated wells.

The Walkerites have stripped away local mining, shoreline and other local governing powers, so the giant pig farm proposed for import from Iowa so close to the shores of Lake Superior could turn into another major fight pitting grassroots interests against both the GOP and the corporate interests the party routinely, reflexively serves.

And, regrettably, the iron ore property owner is still looking for a mining company, so the region could be for a one-two punch.