John Hopkins Researchers Express Concerns About Rural Health

Previously posted on April 2, 2014

In a recent letter to Kewaunee Cares, six researchers from the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future wrote to express their concerns about some of the public health and environmental concerns associated with the generation and management of manure from intensive livestock operations.

Conclusion: For thousands of years, manure has been valued by farmers for its roles in building soil quality and increasing crop yields. Producing livestock such that they generate more manure than can be utilized by nearby cropland is not only a waste of this important resource, it is also a public health and environmental problem. A growing body of evidence has implicated the generation and management of manure from intensive livestock operations in the spread of infectious disease (including antibiotic-resistant strains), the introduction of microbial and chemical contaminants into ground and surface waters, impacts to air quality, and the wide range of adverse health, social, ecological and economic outcomes that result from these events.

Read the entire 12-page letter in the pdf file attached here: 2014-03-27 Manure from intensive livestock operations-1

Learn more about issues that threaten your welfare

Wednesday May 21st Program at Crossroads at Big Creek 7:00 p.m.

“From Industrial Livestock Farms to Mining for Sand and Iron: How Citizens Defend Our Natural Heritage” is the message that Kimberlee Wright, Executive Director of Midwest Environmental Advocates of Madison will be bringing to the May 21st DCEC seminar at Crossroads at Big Creek. Both of these extremely important issues now threaten all of the residents of Wisconsin with the impacts, known and unknown, on the health and future welfare of everyone living in the state and beyond.

Kim Wright has become well-known for her leadership in the citizen battles that are happening all over Wisconsin in the effort to defend and maintain resource and health protection. From the sand mining operations in western Wisconsin, to the animal waste expansion projects in this northeast part of our state, the Midwest Environmental Advocates group has been the strong force in the opposition. With the de-funding and removal of the Wisconsin Public Intervener defense office, the Midwest Environmental Advocates has risen to the task of concentrating on public welfare and human and natural resource issues.

In these times when it appears that most State agencies responsible for resource protection have been purposely under funded and have had their enforcement powers limited, the action of the Midwest Environmental Advocates has become the only effective voice to defend resources in facing the challenge of big money influence. You have seen the result of resource destruction all over Wisconsin in the quest for making fortunes, just as the lumber barons pillaged the entire state in the last century contrary to the laws of nature and resource conservation.

Bring your friends and neighbors to this eye-opening presentation at Crossroads at Big Creek on Wednesday May 21st at 7:00 p.m. and hear what is being done to protect your rights as citizens and residents of Wisconsin. You will also hear what must be done in the future. A question and answer period will follow Kimberlee’s presentation.

Wednesday May 21st 7:00 p.m. Crossroad at Big Creek, 2041 Michigan Street, Sturgeon Bay, WI. 54235

State Needs Healthy Discussion on Future of Farming

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel published, yesterday, the following article highlighting the fact that Wisconsin farms generated the largest number of manure spills in the state since 2007. According to DNR records more than a million gallons of manure was spilled.

This problem isn’t going away, neither is the resolve to find a way to stop the pollution of state waterways and groundwater.

http://www.jsonline.com/news/opinion/state-needs-healthy-discussion-on-future-of-farming-b99172011z1-237661071.html?ipad=y