Helping shape local policy

GREEN BAY, Wis. — When the highway department in Door County wanted to impose a permit fee of $200 for every manure frac tank placed on a county road, dairy farmer Jacob Brey spoke up.

“If you have 50 fields that you set up on, or if you set up on a hay field three or four times to haul manure after alfalfa, you’re looking at $10,000 worth of fees,” Brey said. “With the highway department not having any farmers on it, they don’t think of that.”

After Brey and another farmer argued their case at a meeting where the fee was discussed, they were able to get the fee dropped to $200 for the entire year.

“I remember that day I was in the barn, and I really didn’t want to go, but I knew it was the right thing to do,” Brey said. “A young farmer showing up really resonated with them.”

Brey and two other dairy farmers, Jeremy Heim and Tyler Bulgrin, discussed the significance of community involvement in a panel entitled “Cultivating Collaboration: Farmers Engaging in Local Leadership,” Jan. 15 at the Dairy Strong conference in Green Bay. The session was moderated by Erin Tomasik, community relations manager at Voice of Milk.

Brey and his brother, Tony, are fourth-generation farmers milking about 1,400 cows with their wives at Brey Cycle Farm near Sturgeon Bay. Brey is the agricultural representative on the Door County Land Conservation Committee, chairs the county Farm Service Agency committee, and belongs to the watershed group, Peninsula Pride Farms.

Bulgrin and his brother, Jon, are fourth-generation dairy farmers milking about 300 cows at Bulgrin Grand View Farms LLC with their mother, Deb Bulgrin. The Bulgrins operate two farms in Portage County near Milladore and Rudolph.

When an ordinance centered around Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations stood to impact dairy farms recently, Bulgrin’s watershed group — Farmers of Mill Creek —wanted to have a seat at the table.

“That gave me an opportunity to get involved with the ad hoc advising committee,” Bulgrin said. “I was reluctant to do it, but I wanted to get involved and tell our story.”

Tomasik applauded Bulgrin’s efforts.

“(Bulgrin) did the really, really tough thing, and that was to stand up for all of livestock agriculture in his county, even though he’s not a CAFO,” she said. “He stood in front of that committee for many hours, stayed on message and continued to push that out there, even when many of those conversations were 6-1.”

Bulgrin said the outcome could have been different if he and another farmer had not attended, as at least half the committee appeared to be in favor of the proposed ordinance.

“I told them, ‘Let’s take you out to a farm,’ and they agreed to it,” he said. “I think that did moderate a lot of positions, even on the other side of the committee.”

Heim and his family operate Heim’s Hillcrest Dairy and Heim Brothers Custom near Algoma. They milk 850 cows with plans of going to 2,000. Heim serves on several boards, including Peninsula Pride Farms, Wisconsin Custom Operators Inc., Professional Nutrient Applicators Association of Wisconsin and Farmers for Sustainable Food.

“By being involved and telling our story, we can usually change the opinion of what people may not understand,” Heim said. “I invite them to our farm, and say, ‘Give me five minutes to change your opinion, or help us understand what your concerns are so we can be part of the solution.’”

When Kewaunee County was looking at implementing a $350 charge for every frac tank, Heim said he and a few farmers showed up to the meeting.

While a draft had already been made, Heim said the officials still had open ears to listen to the farmers. Four months later, it was completely rewritten with the farmers’ concerns taken into consideration, and the fee was reduced to $350 per year.

Brey said serving on his county’s land conservation committee has been a way for him to connect with town supervisors. He said while farmers once filled town supervisor positions, they are retiring and being replaced by people from out of town. The result is a disconnect between farmers and those serving in leadership roles.

“That’s why I feel it’s necessary to not only be involved but to be actively involved,” Brey said. “Just because you’re on a committee, that’s great, but if you’re not going to stand up for what you believe in and make your voice heard, then you’re kind of wasting everybody’s time.”

Brey said his watershed group is having a positive impact in northeastern Wisconsin.

“Ten years ago, the non-farm public was telling the story, and farmers were playing defense,” he said. “We’ve learned how to play offense. Farmers have such a powerful story to tell. Agriculture is changing rapidly, and people who are on these committees don’t understand. It’s so enlightening for them when we have tours or host field days.”

Bulgrin agreed that the disconnect is growing.

“You can see it, but I also think curiosity is still increasing, and that gives us an opportunity to tell our stories,” he said.

Each farmer is working to build relationships, and Heim stressed the importance of proactive relationship building, especially since manure haulers were disliked when he started in the business, he said.

“If we have that door open and ready and they have a contact at the farm, then when something new comes up that we want to try, we have a place to go,” Heim said.

The first answer Heim received when he wanted to use a manure hose bridge was, “No.”

“We got the sheriff’s department to come out, and they thought it was the greatest thing ever,” Heim said. “And then the towns started to come out and look at it.”

Improving collaboration between local officials and farmers is an ongoing endeavor.

“Get on the phone with your officials and invite them out,” Heim said. “They’re busy, smart people, but they don’t know our industry. Have a conversation and teach them what we do and why we do it.”

Bulgrin agreed.

“It’s amazing how many people wanted to listen to me,” he said. “These last few months, I talked to a lot of different local town officials and built a lot of relationships.”