In addition to his Dane County Supervisor duties, Brett Hulsey is also the Senior Midwest Representative of the Sierra Club, therefore, I fully respect Brett’s expertise in manure spreading. It consistently appears in his writings such as New Roads Are Not The Answer (pdf), in which he argues that new roads won’t ease traffic congestion because building roads only “induces” traffic. Brett’s Lakes and Watershed Committee is recommending new rules for the County.
Liquid Manure Spreading Ordinance: Madison – Today Dane County Board members and Chair of the Dane County Lakes and Watershed Commission Brett Hulsey will introduce a liquid manure spreading ordinance recommended unanimously by the Liquid Manure Task Force. The measure will require farmers who spread liquid manure in the winter to prepare a manure management plan, prohibit spreading within 1000’ of a lake or 300’ from a stream or drainage ditch, on steep slopes more than 12%, and draw up an emergency spill plan.The problem I have with this proposed County Ordinance is that it authorizes permanent bureaucratic advance reporting requirements when all that is needed are guidelines, common sense and fines for misconduct. In this regard it reflects the general local believe that government has both the right and obligation to micromanage private property. Any ordinance with new filing requirements on the private sector will end up costing more tax dollars.
The pdf file of the recommendations is here. It is worth noting the committee decided not to recommend winter spreading prohibition like in Maine, because Dane County has more cows and hogs than that entire State. I guess this means more manure is produced in Madison area than in some States and that it will continue to be spread around all year long.
