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Kewaunee County conservation staff report 2024 permits, farmland-preservation work and planned well testing
Summary
Conservation staff reported 10 animal waste storage permits in 2024 (about $5,000 revenue), completed 126 farmland-preservation walkovers covering ~19,000 acres, described ongoing work to abandon older manure pits, and said well testing is scheduled for October 2025. Staff also announced nutrient management classes and a new employee.
Vivian, Kewaunee County Conservation Department staff, presented year-end program numbers and upcoming events, reporting on permits, farmland-preservation compliance and groundwater monitoring plans.
Vivian said the department issued 10 animal waste storage permits in 2024, bringing in roughly $5,000 in permit revenue. She told the committee the department completed 126 farmland-preservation walkovers in 2024 covering about 19,000 acres; 95 of those properties are in full compliance while 31 are on compliance schedules and remain able to claim farmland-preservation tax credits while working to meet standards.
On manure-storage management, staff described a program to identify older manure-storage pits that have not been used in the past 24 months and to pursue abandonment and cost-share opportunities for pits that cannot be brought up to modern standards. Vivian said some older pits are being retained for emergency use by smaller farms because they were not built to the newer CAFO standards and therefore cannot serve CAFO operations.
Nutrient-management outreach: Travis, conservation staff, will lead nutrient-management classes Feb. 17–19 (10 a.m.–2 p.m.). The classes — which the department said typically attract 30–40 participants and are reimbursed through grant funding — aim to help farmers write or update nutrient management plans.
Groundwater and well testing: the department said a single well-testing date is scheduled for October 2025; staff reported they are working to interpret recent lab results and seek EPA support for nitrate testing. Vivian said the department’s donation/revolving account had a balance of about $57,000 to support testing and related programs.
Staffing and outreach: the committee was introduced to Samantha, the department’s new employee who started Jan. 2 and is working on nonmetallic mining and greenhouse-related duties as well as other technical tasks. Staff also noted upcoming Extension events and the Midwest Manure Summit, and said they will continue coordination with NRCS and other partners.
The committee set its next regular meeting for Monday, Feb. 10, at 8:15 a.m.
Quotes from the meeting: “we had 10 permits in 2024. That was about $5,000 that we brought in in revenue,” said Vivian, describing the animal waste storage permit totals. She also introduced the new staff member: “this is our new Sam, our new employee. She started, what, January 2nd.”
