Green County at a Crossroads

Wisconsin agriculture has seen many changes in the past couple of decades as farm size has increased and farmers have embraced new technologies. On November 3rd, local residents will have an opportunity to learn more about how Green County’s agricultural landscape is changing as a result of these trends. 
“This is a free event that is open to everyone in the community who cares about the future of family farming and about preserving the beauty of Green County,” explains Jen Riemer, a local farmer and co-founder of Green County Defending our Farmland. “There are a lot of local residents who are concerned about the growing number of large-scale confinement farms in Wisconsin, and they’re starting to wonder how the trend will affect us here in Green County. We decided to put together an educational event that would take place in a relaxed atmosphere where community members could also socialize with their neighbors.” 
The event will take place at 6:30 p.m., at Turner Hall in Monroe on Tuesday, November 3rd. The evening will include several well-known speakers, appetizers, a cash bar and music by The Jimmys and Tracy Bristow.
Featured speakers will include John Ikerd, author and professor emeritus of Agricultural Economics at the University of Missouri, and Lynn Utesch, Kewaunee County beef producer and co-founder of Kewaunee C.A.R.E.S. (Citizens Advocating Responsible Environmental Stewardship).
Jacob Marty, one of the organizers of the event, is a 23-year-old farmer working with his father on their 410 acres near Monticello. “My family has been farming this land for six generations. I want to farm in a way that improves the soil for the generation that comes after me.” 
Marty says he is concerned about the trend toward consolidation of farmland and the possibility of large-scale confinement farms setting up operations in Green County. “It’s time for us to educate ourselves about how Green County would change if that happens,” Marty explained. “People around here care about clean water and the beautiful landscape that surrounds us. We care about the survival of the family farm. That’s what our community was built on, and we want to make sure it continues.”