County Backs Farmers but Authority Limited under State Law
- 15 minutes ago
- 1 min read
by Trinity Gruenberg
The Wadena County Commissioners held their regular meeting on March 10. Commissioner Murlyn Kreklau attended via Zoom.
Right-To-Farm Declaration
Farm Bureau Representative Brian Roth told the board that commercial deer farms in Minnesota have sharply declined over the past decade, in part due to stricter rules tied to chronic wasting disease (CWD), including requirements for double fencing and limits on who farms can sell to. He argued these rules are making operations financially unsustainable and could foreshadow similar actions affecting other livestock sectors such as swine, cattle and poultry.
Roth said agriculture is a major economic driver in Wadena County, citing roughly 120,000 farmed acres, about 983 farms, and more than $120 million in annual agricultural production. He asked commissioners to join several other counties in supporting a right-to-farm stance to show solidarity and build pressure for legislative change.
Commissioners expressed strong support for agriculture but also noted limits on what a county resolution can do. County Attorney Kyra Ladd explained that Minnesota’s existing “right to farm” statute is state law, and a county resolution cannot override or change it. She recommended that any enforceable protections be considered through the county’s ongoing zoning update instead.
Commissioners agreed the resolution is largely symbolic but still valuable...
