Budget cuts affect manure spills, runoff mitigation

Proposed cuts to Wisconsin's agricultural programs could exacerbate a recent spike in manure spills and runoff accidents, state conservationists warn.

Several cuts tucked into Gov. Scott Walker's proposed budget would decrease staff who ensure farmers meet environmental standards, remove dollars for developing safe manure management plans and limit research into the impact of agricultural runoff.

The possible changes come amid a two-year spike in manure mishaps prompting environmentalists, landowners and lawmakers to question if the state is doing enough to mitigate hazards.

"At a time when we've got expanding agriculture that is producing more liquid manure on a shrinking land base ... the ability to respond to that pressure is going in the wrong direction," said Jim VandenBrook executive director of the Wisconsin Land and Water Conservation Association.

Livestock operations spilled more than 3 million gallons of manure in 2013 and 2014, the Gannett Wisconsin Media Investigative Team reported earlier this month.

At least 4.8 million gallons of manure have spilled since 2009, and some of those accidents caused fish kills, polluted wetlands and contaminated drinking water.

Environmental advocacy groups say pollution from liquified manure is one of the biggest hazards for Wisconsin's drinking wells and waterways.

Walker's spokeswoman said the 2015-17 budget bill includes $24 million to help reduce pollution from runoff. Walker, who is expected to make a run for the presidency, also proposed starting a water quality initiative led by farmers to tackle conservation issues, Laurel Patrick said.

The suggested cuts to conservation programs are part of Walker's effort to create a "more efficient, more effective and more accountable" government, Patrick said.

But VandenBrook said the budget "sends a signal to agriculture that conservation is not that important."

Some of the most significant cuts to conservation efforts include:

•A 10 percent reduction in funding for county land and water conservation staff, who work with farmers to ensure they're meeting environmental standards. The $815,000 cut would eliminate the full-time equivalent of 12 to 15 positions statewide.

•A 30 percent cut in funds to help farmers pay for developing costly nutrient management plans. These plans dictate how farmers can safely handle and use manure and other materials. The cut amounts to $650,000.

•The elimination of more than 18 positions in the Department of Natural Resources science and research bureau. One of the bureau's functions is monitoring the health of waterways.

Other smaller cuts would eliminate funding for phosphorous modeling software used in developing nutrient management plans and educational staff that work with farmers on environmental issues.

The cuts would make it harder for farmers to adopt safe practices and hinder state and county officials' ability to enforce standards, said Amber Meyer Smith, director of programs and government relations for Clean Wisconsin.

"They're not only cutting the science that goes into managing (manure) but also the money that helps prevent pollution and the people who serve as the liaisons to farmers. Its' kind of a triple whammy, and it will have the impact of magnifying an already growing problem," Meyer Smith said.

More than 330 manure spills have been documented by the DNR since 2009. Most of the incidents resulted from equipment malfunctions, such as ruptured hoses, or accidents, including manure trucks that tipped over, DNR records show. Some were caused by improper spreading.

Most spills are cleaned up without any measurable harm to people or animals, DNR spokesman Ed Culhane said.

The proposed cuts would be applied to programs administered by the DNR and the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. Neither agency would comment on the cuts.

"The proposed budget is now in the hands of the legislature. We'll let them do their work and see how it turns out," said DATCP Communications Director Jim Dick.

—arodewal@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter @AdamGRodewald and on Facebook at Facebook.com/AdamGRodewald.