CAFO Alert!

From Crawford Stewardship:

BACKGROUND

In July 2025 Crawford County received two permit applications for two new large hog operations. In the applications the two operations are named Gruber Livestock North and Gruber Livestock South, they are of identical design, located neighboring each other, and list two separate owners who live in the same Illinois county just south of Chicago and who appear to work at the same culinary sourcing company.​ 

Each of the two permit applications is for 999.6 animal units (AU). This is notable because 1,000 AU is the threshold for more stringent state oversight from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Operations between 500-999 AU are overseen by the county.  The CSP report explains that 1999.2 AU is roughly equivalent to the combined weight of 12,103 people, which is roughly equivalent to the population of Platteville.

The report is available here on the CSP website, with a button at the end to download a printable PDF version.

INFORMATION & DEADLINES 

There is a virtual informational meeting to answer questions before the Monday/Tuesday comment period deadlines.

Monday, October 13, 9-10 am

CSP informational meeting (virtual)

Video call link: https://meet.google.com/spq-xqhw-gje

Or dial: ‪(US) +1 218-301-2333‬ PIN: ‪623 389 541‬#

Send questions to forest@crawfordstewardship.org

Monday, October 13, noon

This is the deadline to submit written comment. Send comments to Dave Troester, County Conservationist at dtroester@co.crawford.wi.gov

Tuesday, October 14, noon to 2 pm

Public Hearing for Gruber Livestock permit applications (in-person)

This is the deadline to submit verbal comment.

Crawford County Administrative Building, 225 N Beaumont Rd, Prairie du Chien

The permit application documents can be found on the Crawford County website, here are the links for Gruber North and Gruber South.

TALKING POINTS

If you are looking for inspiration or guidance as you put together comments to submit to the county, this document of advice and ideas was compiled by several members of our local community who have long experience with this sort of 'protecting' work.  A true grassroots effort!