‘Win-Win’ measure reduces agricultural pollution while providing income for farmers
MADISON… Bipartisan clean water legislation authored by Senator André Jacque (New Franken) aimed at helping Wisconsin farmers generate income while reducing runoff pollution was signed into law today by Governor Tony Evers as Act 121.
Farmers in Wisconsin have pursued a variety of best practices and initiatives to address manure storage challenges and reduce runoff pollution. One promising approach for dairy farmers is composting manure, an environmentally friendly practice that can reduce the need for excessive manure spreading while producing a valuable organic fertilizer. However, certain state regulations have limited the ability of farmers to sell composted manure products.
Under previous law, fertilizers distributed in Wisconsin were required to contain a combined weight of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium that is at least 24 percent of the total weight of the fertilizer unless the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) promulgated a rule exempting the fertilizer or granted a permit authorizing its distribution as a nonagricultural or special-use fertilizer. This requirement made many compost-based organic products effectively unsellable in Wisconsin.
Act 121 removes this regulatory barrier, helping make manure composting more economically viable for Wisconsin farmers.
“This clean water initiative is a ‘win-win’ measure that removes a barrier to making the environmental and agricultural best practice of manure composting more economically viable for Wisconsin farmers, while reducing pressure on dairy farms to excessively spread manure,” said Jacque.
The proposal passed both the Assembly and Senate unanimously before being signed into law. Representative Jeff Mursau (Crivitz) served as the lead author in the Assembly. The change is expected to increase financial incentives for farmers to improve waste management practices.
“In talking to experts who work with farmers to address financial and logistical hurdles, it is clear that Wisconsin producers who are looking to adopt this environmentally friendly change face regulatory obstacles,” said Jacque. “This new law will help farmers sell the valuable organic products created through the composting process, which have become profitable revenue streams in other states.”
Senator André Jacque represents Northeast Wisconsin’s First Senate District, consisting of Door and Kewaunee Counties and portions of Brown, Calumet, Manitowoc, and Outagamie counties.
