Kewaunee Cares Protests Dairy Expansion

On Feb. 19, supporters of Kewaunee Cares, Citizens Advocating Responsible Environmental Stewardship, gathered in protest outside the KI Center in Green Bay, where the Dairy Business Association (DBA) held their Dairy Expansion Symposium.

“Our message to the Dairy Industry is that further expansion in Kewaunee County is not an option. Already, 30 percent of private wells tested here are contaminated with nitrates and E-coli bacteria making that water unsafe to drink,” says Lynn Utesch, area farmer and executive committee member of Kewaunee Cares.

Utesch adds, “In some cases, expansion is displacing families living nearby these mega-dairy facilities because of health reasons and falling property values. The industrial agriculture model is not sustainable and comes at great cost to our community.”

Kewaunee Cares is a working committee of the Clean Water Action Council based in Green Bay. Through its educational activities and information outlets, including a blog site at http://www.kewauneecares.wordpress.com, the committee works to promote the concepts of sustainable living, respect for the land, air and water resources of the area and maintaining a healthy environment and economy to pass along to future generations.