Letter to the Editor: Manure Problems

Over the last few years I have read and watched how our neighbors in Kewaunee County have had an influx of not only CAFOs but also contaminated wells. Now I read that a man in southern Door County counted 99 trucks spreading liquid manure on 35 acres in one day by his home and then had his well shoot up with unsafe nitrate levels. The answer was “only about two bags of lawn fertilizer is the nutrient content in a semi-truck. It’s so much water.” Might I suggest that the CAFOs start spreading their liquid manure around the state capital, our elected officials’ homes and that of anyone else that wants to study the problem some more.

The DNR will study the problem and make suggestions by fall, explaining that normally it would take “three to five years.” Interesting, since everyone has been ignoring the problem for years; except the people with the bad wells. Seeing as how our governor has gutted the DNR, including no scientists, we’ll have to see what they come up with. As the problem with the brown stuff will continue, there is a meeting about digesters to take care of our growing piles. One hopes that the powers that be, research those, because there are problems with them also.

With all the studies that are going to take place in the next few months I suggest these are four things that should be considered:

1. Maybe we aren’t meant to keep thousands of animals in closed buildings, never seeing the light of day.
2. Even animals don’t defecate where they live if they have a choice.
3. Money talks.
4. Where will we all live when there is no more safe water to drink?

Carol Schmidt

Baileys Harbor, Wis.