WisBusiness: Vernon County Protest planned against large hog farming operation

By Gregg Hoffmann
WisBusiness.com

VIROQUA – A protest rally is planned when the final public hearing is held Monday on a moratorium for large scale animal confinements in Vernon County.

The public hearing is scheduled for Monday, July 30, at 7 p.m. at the Western Technical College on Main Street in downtown Viroqua. Vernon County supervisors will hold the hearing and are scheduled to vote as a full board on the moratorium on Aug. 7.

Members of Valley Stewardship Network and other groups are organizing the protest rally.

The proposed moratorium has been prompted by a large hog operation proposed near De Soto. Opponents to the operation are concerned about pollution from runoff of manure, and also believe approval of that operation will open the door to other large scale farms.

On July 13, more than 200 people took part in a rally on the Vernon County Court House lawn to show their support for a moratorium.

Supporters of large, animal confinement operations reportedly are organizing a large
tractor brigade to counter the protest rally.