Dec. 14, 2023 www.investigatemidwest.org Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting
CAFO becomes flashpoint for Wis. small town
Less than a thousand people live in Trade Lake, Wisconsin, near the Minnesota border. Snowbirds and vacationers frequent the town's scenic lakes. Wildlife abounds.
It was into this environment that a businessman pitched building one of the largest concentrated animal feeding operations — or CAFOs — in the Midwest. The proposal created a flashpoint in the township — one that ultimately led to residents trying to oust a longtime public official.
In a new series, Wisconsin Watch delves into the developer, the residents and the case. As CAFOs have become more prominent across Wisconsin and the Midwest, the newsroom's series illuminates the local debates surrounding the facilities' economic and environmental impacts.
— Sky Chadde, assistant editor/senior reporter
HOGTIED
A three-part series by Wisconsin Watch that examines the political, regulatory and economic forces shaping a proposal to build the state’s largest pig farm.
The chairman: How a plan to develop Wisconsin’s largest pig farm upended a small town’s politics
A proposal for a $20 million concentrated animal feeding operation sowed distrust in Trade Lake as opponents accused the town’s chairman of backroom dealings to facilitate construction.
The businessman: Pig farm developer gains little trust in Wisconsin town. He doesn’t particularly care.
Critics accuse a developer of disregarding local concerns in his push to construct the state’s largest pig farm. He calls himself the victim of ‘selfish’ residents.
The watchdogs: After Wisconsin landowners discover plans to spread pig manure without permission, critics call for stronger oversight
State leans on citizens to scrutinize big farms’ manure plans. Opponents fear serious environmental harm.
GRAPHIC: In past decade, global agriculture’s rate of growth has slowed
By Sky Chadde, Investigate Midwest
The rate of that global agricultural growth has slowed in the past decade, according to an analysis from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. A variety of reasons could be behind it, according to the USDA:
View the graphic.
News on our end-of-year campaign: We have a new match!
We learned this week that the match from the NewsMatch program has been raised to $15,000. This means any individual donation through Dec. 31 will be doubled until we reach $15,000. We are SO close!
As of today, you have given $12,500 to that goal.
Now, our overall goal is $25,000, and we are on our way! Thank you for your support. If you value our reporting on the U.S. food system, its safety and practices, please consider a gift now. Every dollar gets doubled and matters.
Mary Ungs-Sogaard, Donor Relations Manager
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