Big farms can generate big controversies — in some parts of Wisconsin, citizen groups have asked local governments to create ordinances to control siting and operation of animal agriculture facilities. The first College of Agricultural and Life Sciences Issue Forum, Nov. 11 at the Monona Terrace Convention Center in Madison, will take a closer look at what some call agricultural industrialization and others call factory farming.

“Agricultural Industrialization: What”s In It For Wisconsin” will examine the trends toward larger, more specialized farms that have a variety of ownership and management arrangements. These new arrangements often are viewed as standing in sharp contrast to the traditional farm units that have existed in Wisconsin”s rural communities for many years.

The forum will feature a keynote speech by Luther Tweeten, an agricultural marketing and policy specialist from The Ohio State University. Tweeten will argue that industrialization of agriculture is inevitable, both in the nation and in Wisconsin. Two “reactor panels” will respond to Tweeten. The first will include Louis E. Swanson, chair of the sociology department at Colorado State University, and Brad Barham, Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, University of Wisconsin-Madison. The second panel will include Tim Kabat, Sauk Co. planning and zoning director; Margaret Krome, agricultural policy coordinator for the Michael Fields Agricultural Institute in East Troy; Ron Lund, regional manager for Farmland Industries; and Dan Truttman, a grass-based dairy farmer from Green County.

“Changing farm structure generates a great deal of controversy, and is precisely the kind of issue we think we need to address with our Issue Forums,” said CALS dean Neal Jorgensen. “Issue Forums will examine significant and controversial questions that confront us in the areas of agriculture, natural resources and environment, and biological and biomedical sciences.”
The College plans to conduct two such forums each year. The forums will not advocate for particular viewpoints. Instead, they will explore important facets of selected topics, and encourage discussions of issues and options for dealing with them.

The College wishes to provide citizens and their elected representatives with:

? a better understanding of scientific findings and how various groups view controversial issues;
? alternatives for addressing issues; and
? analysis of advantages and disadvantages associated with each alternative.

The forum will begin Tuesday, Nov. 11 at 10:30 a.m. and conclude with an informal discussion and refreshments at 4:30 p.m. The $7.50 registration fee includes materials, refreshments and lunch. Mail your registration (checks payable to UW-Madison) to CALS Outreach Services, 620 Babcock Drive, Madison WI 53706. Please register by Oct. 31 to reserve a spot. For more information or to register after Oct. 31, contact CALS Outreach Services, (608) 263-1672.