Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The state Department of Natural Resources has approved permanent regulations allowing captive deer farmers to opt out of the state's chronic wasting disease monitoring program without upgrading their fences.
Deer farms have had to enroll in the monitoring program to get DNR approval for a single fence. Farms that don't participate in monitoring must install double or solid fencing.
The DNR board in December adopted an emergency rule allowing farmers to opt out of monitoring without installing double or solid fencing. Agency officials say they're worried farmers might not be able to afford to comply with new federal standards for monitoring, have to get out of the program and then pay to upgrade their fences.
The board approved a permanent version of the rule 6-1 Wednesday in Ashland.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
