Senator Steve Nass (R-Whitewater), Chairman of the Labor and Regulatory Reform Committee, hailed the passage of Senate Bill 76 by the State Senate.  The bill clarifies state law in regards to high capacity well permits for agricultural, industrial and municipal wells.  High capacity well permit holders will now have greater certainty when replacing, repairing or transferring ownership of their wells.

 

     “Today, we provided protection to our agricultural industry from excessive regulatory control on existing high capacity wells by the Department of Natural Resources.  During debate on the bill, Senate Democrats argued that DNR staff on the Isthmus of Madison should manage the future of farming throughout the state by controlling access to water.  Their support of central water planning would destroy Wisconsin’s rural economy,” Nass said.

 

     Nass pointed to Wisconsin’s annual national role in food production:

 

            -1st in the nation for the production of green beans for processing.

            -1st in the nation for the production of beets for canning.

            -1st in the nation for the production of cabbage for kraut.

            -2nd in the nation for the production of carrots and peas for processing.

            -3rd in the nation for the production of potatoes, sweet corn and cucumbers for pickles.

            -Top ten producer of onions.

            -Specialty crop production/processing account for $6.4 billion in economic activity.

            -Specialty crop production/processing employs nearly 35,000 people in the Badger State.

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