LOOK INSIDE FOR OUR WORLD DAIRY EXPO PREVIEW EDITION!
DAIRY ST R
Proposed rule changes to livestock siting law
September 14, 2019
“All dairy, all the time”™
Volume 21, No. 14
Rohlfs thrives despite childhood farm accident
Eden farmer
DATCP holds public accustomed to hearings for input By Danielle Nauman danielle.n@dairystar.com
ONALASKA, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection recently held 12 public hearings on the proposed rule changes to ATCP 51 regarding livestock facility siting in the state of Wisconsin, including an afternoon hearing Sept. 4 in Onalaska, Wis. The public comment period ends Sept. 13. The goal of the livestock facility siting law is to provide uniform local regulation of the siting of livestock facilities and the expansion of those facilities. The law was rst enacted in 2006 and has not been changed or updated since that time, although the law requires that DATCP must review ATCP 51 every four years. Reviews were previously done in 2010, 2014 and 2018. “The law directs the state department of agriculture to do several things, one of which is to create the administrative rules which species what standards actually apply to livestock facilities that are permitted by local governments,” said Chris Clayton, DATCP livestock siting program manager. The standards were created using eight objectives including being protective of public health and safety; that they are practical and workable; cost effective; objective; based on available scientic information; designed to promote the growth and viability of animal agriculture in the state; designed to balance the economic viability of farm operations while protecting natural resources and other community interests; and that the rules are usable by local ofcials that actually use the rules for the permitting process. “Local governments choose, and it is a choice, to permit livestock facilities by adopting ATCP 51 as part of their local ordinance, either through zoning or licensing ordinance.” Clayton said. “They need to include the standards that are in ATCP 51, as well as the actual permitting process that is a Turn to SITING | Page 6
life with one arm By Stacey Smart
stacey.s@dairystar.com
EDEN, Wis. – John Rohlfs was just 3 years old when he lost one of his arms in a farm accident. On a fall morning in 1974 during corn harvest, Rohlfs’ left arm got caught in a feed grinder and was severed just below the shoulder. “I was supposed to be in the barn with my mom, but instead, I ran off to see what my dad was doing,” Rohlfs said. “My dad picked me up, and while he was holding me, I stuck my arm in the opening between the two Turn to ROHLFS | Page 7
STACEY SMART/DAIRY STAR
John Rohlfs milks 90 cows and farms 200 acres with his sister and brother-in-law, Julie and Tim Narges, and their children in Eden, Wis. Rohlfs lost his arm in a farm accident when he was 3 years old and grew up learning how to do chores with one hand.
Champions drink milk
Caledonia football coach promotes dairy as beverage of choice By Krista Kuzma
krista.k@dairystar.com
KRISTA KUZMA/DAIRY STAR
Coach Carl Fruechte (center) holds cartons of chocolate milk with players on the football team at Caledonia High School in Caledonia, Minn. The athletes are – (from leŌ) Jed Kasten, Blake Morrow, Logan Banse, Isaiah Reinhart, AusƟn Heaney, Jack Strub and Luke Twite.
CALEDONIA, Minn. – When it comes to a refueling drink, what do the nine-time state football champion Caledonia Warriors choose? Chocolate milk. For the last ve years, head coach Carl Fruechte has offered chocolate milk to his football players after practice and games. The football team’s booster club and the school’s food service staff help keep a stocked refrigerator in the coach’s room at the high school in Caledonia, Minn. “The science shows it’s just as good or equal to giving them a protein shake,” Fruechte said. “That protein will replenish and rebuild the muscles and makes recovery better.” As head coach since 1997 and a part of the coaching staff since 1988, Fruechte Turn to CALEDONIA | Page 5