The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) Secretary Ben Brancel issued this message in honor of June Dairy Month:

Wisconsin has much to be proud of this June Dairy Month as it reflects on the strong history and dynamic future of the state’s dairy industry. From the red barns and modern structures dotting the Wisconsin landscape to the methane digesters converting animal waste to green energy, the state’s dairy industry has continued to modernize and innovate to be competitive.

There is no other state that has the infrastructure, support network, and resources available to dairy producers like that of Wisconsin. Residents benefit from the 1.26 million cows on over 12,000 dairy farms that call Wisconsin home, as every cow in the state generates over $20,000 in annual economic activity. Many other businesses rely on these dairy farms to be successful including veterinarians, nutritionists, educators, and manufacturers. Wisconsin’s dairy industry generates $26.5 billion in economic impact annually and accounts for more than 146,000 jobs.

Wisconsin produced over 26 billion pounds of milk in 2010, breaking the all-time record production of 25 billion pounds set in 1988. While cows and dairy are successful producing high-quality milk, what processors and cheesemakers do with milk puts Wisconsin a step ahead.

Wisconsin has over 600 types, styles, and varieties of cheeses that are sold around the world. Our over 1,200 licensed cheesemakers make a quarter of the nation’s cheese, ranking Wisconsin as the top cheese-producing state. Additionally, Wisconsin is the leading producer of specialty cheese, producing 552 million pounds last year or 21% of Wisconsin’s total cheese production. Dairyland cheese also wins more awards than any other state or nation, as Wisconsin cheeses claimed 73 awards at the 2010 World Cheese Championships.

• A "person down" was reported in Janesville. The person hadn't moved for 20 minutes. Police and fire responded to find that the person was taking a nap.

• Moooooo! A 150-gallon milk tank was stolen from a farm along Highway 14.

• A man charged with possession of improvised explosives told investigators he was a "pyro" who tried to make a "little thing that blows up," according to the criminal complaint.

• R-E-S-P-E-C-T: A battery was reported at Road Dawg Saloon. Members of the Outlaws motorcycle gang are suspected of assaulting a patron after he disrespected them.

• A caller told police a Janesville man was keeping chickens in his garage, violating the livestock and poultry ordinance.

Ted Sullivan can be reached at (608) 755-8253, tsullivan@gazettextra.com or follow him on Twitter or Facebook at Rock County Crime.

Ron Seely

The state Department of Natural Resources has approved a permit that will allow the Rosendale Dairy, near Ripon in Fond du Lac County, to expand from 4,000 to 8,000 cows, which would make it the largest of the state’s so-called factory farms.

With 8,000 cows, the farm will produce more than 92 million gallons of manure a year, making it the state’s third largest producer of waste, behind Milwaukee and Madison, according to the DNR. Under the modified permit approved by the agency Friday, the farm will have to expand the acreage on which manure will be spread from 4,000 to 12,000 acres.

The DNR also required the farm to meet some requirements beyond standards in the law that govern the operation of such large-scale farms. For example, Rosendale Dairy will not be allowed to spread manure within 200 feet of private wells, even though the law calls only for a 100-foot buffer.

By Cami Mountain

 A Clark County man is turning waste from his farm into enough electricity to power nearly 250 nearby homes.

Steve Bach's family dairy farm sits just outside the Village of Dorchester. His herd has 2,600 head of cattle. Also on his farm is a complex machine that takes cattle waste and turns it into power. It literally separates cow manure, removing the solid from the methane gas. That gas is then pumped into power lines and into hundreds of rural Dorchester homes.