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About the rule Major revisions to the manure-runoff rule include: Restrictions on applying solid and liquid manure on frozen or snow-covered ground Requirements for large factory farms to have six-months' worth of liquid manure storage Requirements for phosphorus-based nutrient management Provisions for issuing general permits to groups of factory farms in lieu of individual permits Standard-permit requirements for large factory farms including mortality management, restrictions on chemical disposal in storage or containment facilities, storm water controls and development of an emergency response plan.

More input sought before new manure controls are set

By Karen Lincoln Michel
Press-Gazette Madison bureau kmichel@greenbaypressgazette.com

MADISON — Changes will be made to a proposed state rule targeting manure runoff by large factory farms with input from stakeholders affected by the new rule.

The modifications will be based, in part, on testimony from last week's public hearing on the Department of Natural Resources rule, which includes banning concentrated animal feeding operations from spreading liquid manure in February and March.

The DNR also plans to collaborate with state lawmakers and stakeholders in a process likely to extend into early 2007, said Russell Rasmussen, director of the state Department of Natural Resources Bureau of Watershed Management.

"We have to identify all the stakeholders that would like a seat at the table," said Rasmussen. "It might be a lot of people."

The Senate Agriculture and Insurance committee held Thursday's public hearing jointly with the Assembly Agriculture Committee and had given the DNR until 5 p.m. Monday to decide whether it would proceed with changes. If not, the Senate committee said it would have rejected the rule on grounds that it was "arbitrary and capricious, and imposes an undue hardship" for some farmers.

Farmers testified last week that the rules were too restrictive. Many of them spoke against a provision that would prohibit them from spreading manure when at least a 70 percent chance of rain of 2 inches or more is forecast for the next 24-hour period.

Farmers also opposed a requirement that they keep manure stored for at least six months to avoid spreading in winter months. The winter ban prevents them from applying manure when the ground is frozen or snow covered, as warm spells could force runoffs into nearby streams or soak into groundwater.

Rasmussen said any changes must get approval from the Natural Resources Board before the rule is sent back to the legislative committees.

It is possible for some provisions of the rule to be in place by early 2007; other provisions — not discussed at the hearing — are slated to take effect in 2010, Rasmussen said.