Wisconsin Ag Connection - Wood County Leaders May Step Up Manure Management Rules

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Wood County Leaders May Step Up Manure Management Rules
Wisconsin Ag Connection - 08/04/2015

Members of the Wood County board will soon consider an ordinance amendment that would require area farms to boost their nutrient management planning. On August 18, supervisors will vote on a plan to hire a full-time staff person to help livestock owners finalize and enforce their nutrient management programs in an attempt to protect groundwater quality.

County Corporation Counsel Peter Kastenholzamended says the amendment would be tacked on to an existing ordinance that already regulates the storage and use of animal waste and fertilizers.

If approved, the staff person would also work with the county's health department to monitor well water, and take samples from ponds, lakes and streams to make sure they are not being contaminated by runoff manure or other types of fertilizer.

In June, the county's board were split on the idea of creating a more strict groundwater protection ordinance.

Wood County is also home of the Wysocki Family of Companies, which has been in the news over the past year as they try to build a large-scale dairy that many neighbors have been objecting to because of their concerns about manure management.

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