Appeals court upholds DNR's power to require permits for how large farms manage manure

CALUMET COUNTY, Wis. (WKOW) -- The 2nd District Court of Appeals ruled Wednesday that the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is allowed to require large livestock operations, sometimes referred to as CAFOs, to apply for water pollution permits. That decision upholds a previous decision from a lower court.

There are more than 300 CAFOs in Wisconsin. Environmental advocates say each one can have thousands of cows and generate more waste than a small community.

The DNR requires large farms to get state approval on how they store and manage manure, in an effort to limit environmental impacts. Manure runoff can lead to nitrate pollution in ground and surface water, and consuming too many nitrates increases the risk of birth defects, colon cancer and thyroid disease.

The lawsuit sta