Cranberry Farmers Weigh Option Of Frac Sand Mining

Wisconsin cranberry growers are being tempted by the prospect of frac sand mining, but not many are getting into the industry.

The land in Western Wisconsin is rich with sand that is ideal not only for frac sand mining, but for cranberry farms. Sand is commonly used by farmers to line cranberry beds. Growers often harvest sand from their own land, a practice that does not need permitting. If that farmer wants to sell sand, they have to get county and possibly state permits.

According to the Wisconsin State Cranberry Growers Association, there are about 250 growers in the state. Only a few have decided to profit from sand.

Executive director Tom Lochner says growers have been approached by mining companies to either get into the business or sell their land. He says most decide not to after looking into the permitting process.

“With the growth of that sand mining in the state, I think growers are going to make the same evaluation that any other landowner would…so I don’t think you’re going to see cranberry growers acting differently.”

If a cranberry grower gets into mining, Lochner says the pits can be reclaimed as water reservoirs.

Wisconsin Industrial Sand Association president Rich Budinger says cranberry farms often have sand closer to the surface, making it easier to mine. Otherwise, he says cranberry operations do not offer an advantage compared to other farms.

“The property itself may be a little bit different with the topography, and challenges – as far as the environmental permitting – challenges may be a little different.”

Budinger says the size of the sand and how close it is to a highway or rail are more important factors for finding ideal mining sites.