By Blake Jackson
The Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation (WFBF) Board of Directors is raising concerns about proposed transmission line projects in southern Wisconsin, citing potential agricultural losses and impacts on farmland, farm operations and rural communities.
According to an internal analysis by WFBF, more than 3,000 Farm Bureau member landowners could be directly affected by the proposed projects. Additional farmers, agribusinesses, and rural businesses could experience indirect consequences.
"While we continue to identify and document the full range of impacts these projects will have, one thing is certain: there will be significant consequences on Wisconsin agriculture," said WFBF President Brad Olson.
"These projects are moving too fast to properly address our members' concerns and thoroughly evaluate the negative consequences of infrastructure of this scale."
The proposed transmission corridors cross highly productive agricultural areas. Agronomic assessments estimate average yields along the proposed routes of 199.8 bushels of corn and 55.2 bushels of soybeans per acre.
WFBF's preliminary economic analysis estimates direct and near-tower crop losses of approximately $2,330 per mile annually under a typical corn-soybean rotation.
Across the proposed projects, annual agricultural production losses could approach $450,000.
These estimates exclude other potential expenses, including soil compaction, drainage problems, drain-tile repairs, construction damage, higher insurance costs, reduced farming efficiency, and possible property-value impacts.
"Lost production value doesn't only impact the farmer directly but extends to the local rural economies and small businesses that depend on those acres for their book of business," said WFBF Executive Director of Government Relations Jason Mugnaini.
"That estimate also does not include construction damage, drain-tile repairs, ongoing operational and management challenges, property-value impacts or longer-term losses caused by these projects."
The federation acknowledged the importance of dependable energy infrastructure but called for greater scrutiny of the proposed routes, their necessity and their potential costs to landowners and electricity customers.
Olson added, "Wisconsin agriculture understands the importance of reliable and resilient energy infrastructure. Farmers, like all Wisconsinites, depend on it. But recognizing the importance of reliable electricity does not mean that infrastructure of this magnitude should advance without a clear demonstration that it is necessary, properly located and worth the costs it imposes on Wisconsin ratepayers and the people whose land, livelihoods and communities will bear its impacts. Until those fundamental questions are answered, moving these projects forward is premature.”
WFBF is encouraging landowners along the BECI study segments and the proposed MariBell route to document and share their concerns.
Other Wisconsin landowners with transmission project experience are also invited to provide feedback before developers proceed to the formal application process with the Wisconsin Public Service Commission.
Photo Credit: pexels-felix-mittermeier
Categories: Wisconsin, Energy, Government & Policy