Wisconsin Ag Connection - New Process Now in Place to Help Cranberry Industry Expand

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New Process Now in Place to Help Cranberry Industry Expand
Wisconsin Ag Connection - 12/17/2008

Two months after an agreement was reached among state and federal regulators to solidify a permitting review process for cranberry marsh expansion in Wisconsin, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has issued a permit of its own to help streamline the entire process. On Tuesday, the Wisconsin State Cranberry Growers Association said the move means growers will now have a more efficient process to expand their operations while maintaining the same regulatory standards required under the previous, lengthier process.

"The 2008 Wisconsin cranberry crop will be above earlier forecasts, and worldwide demand for the fruit remains strong," said WSCGA Director Tom Lochner. "Because of that demand, in July 2008, WSCGA and industry leaders like Ocean Spray, Cliffstar and others announced an effort to grow the industry in Wisconsin."

In October, a letter of understanding was signed after the industry and regulators held educational sessions for Wisconsin growers and wetland consultants and engineers to educate them on the new regulatory process while they waited for the Army Corps' permit. By early next year, Lochner says a number of new acres will likely be planted in Wisconsin while having very little impact on state wetlands.

"Those initial expansion projects were proposed under the old regulatory process, and with the new streamlined review process in place, those plans are expected to be approved sooner and construction to begin when winter breaks," Lochner said.

Earlier in the summer, WSCGA announced its need for such a review process to help the cranberry industry expand in Wisconsin and add up to 1,115 jobs and have an additional $75 million annual economic impact.

The new marsh expansion permitting review process now allows for one common permit application to be submitted to both the Corps and the DNR, rather than two separate applications. The process includes a pre-application meeting between the grower and regulators to discuss the expansion project and gain feedback before the costly and time-consuming permit application is finalized.

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