Marathon County ERC directs staff to draft stricter animal-waste ordinance after year-long farmer work group

Marathon County’s Environmental Resources Committee on Aug. 5 voted to ask planning staff to draft revisions to the county’s animal-waste ordinance that would add a winter-spreading permit, limit liquid-manure spreading during a high-risk 60-day winter window for medium-sized farms, and pursue a countywide riparian-buffer program.

The committee’s vote followed presentations from county staff who said a year-long work group of about 25 participants — including farmers of varying sizes, conservation partners and state agency representatives — produced a majority-backed set of compromises to reduce phosphorus runoff into county waters. Committee members moved and seconded a motion directing staff to prepare ordinance language and return with a draft this fall for review and further public outreach; the motion passed on a voice vote.

Staff said the proposals are intended to reduce winter runoff from liquid manure while limiting burdens on small farms. One option is a winter-spreading permit for farms that apply liquid manure in winter but do not have a nutrient-management plan; staff estimated a permit fee of about $200 for a four-year permit (roughly $50 per year) modeled broadly on…