Wisconsin Farm Bureau President Says Concerns About the Ag Impact of Data Centers Are Growing

Thursday, October 22nd, 2026 -- 10:00 AM

(Jared White, Brownfield Ag News) The president of the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation says concerns about the agricultural impact of data centers are growing.

According to Jared White with Brownfield Ag News, Brad Olson, who farms in Polk County, says the organization is preparing for its annual meeting in early December, and a common theme is appearing in the resolution process.

“There’s a lot of policy coming on data centers that will, for the most part, probably get combined.”  He says, “But yeah, data centers is without a doubt the big one.” He tells Brownfield the concerns range from land and water usage to impact on power grids and utility costs.

“The biggest thing is our members being able to get together and bring policy forward as a grassroots organization for the members to have that say of what their ideas are,” he says.

Olson says any data center policy adopted by delegates would guide the organization’s lobbying efforts at both the state and federal level. WFBF’s annual meeting takes place the first weekend of December in the Wisconsin Dells.

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