Last week the Iowa Senate Natural Resources and Environment Subcommittee sent on a measure to the full committee that would strengthen manure application laws in the state. Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement is pushing for the legislation sponsored by Senator Joe Bolkum of Iowa City. ICCI Organizer Jess Mazour says the measure calls for not allowing application of manure on the ground when it’s frozen.
Mazour says Bolkum’s bill removes the allowance of applying manure on frozen grounds during certain dates. She also says this type of regulation is necessary to prevent pollution from occurring and to protect the state’s water.
Mazour says another important issue that needs to be addressed is that manure management plans are not being enforced properly or even reviewed on a timely basis.
Mazour says Bolkum’s bill is expected to come up in committee sometime this week. She says Representative Dan Kelley of Newton is carrying the companion measure in the House.