Manure application change raising a stink

DES MOINES -- A group active on environmental issues is vowing to kill legislation approved 21-0 Tuesday by the House Ag Committee.

Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement (CCI) said HF 2324 would “gut a ban on the application of factory farm manure on frozen and snow-covered ground and lead directly to more polluted water.”

However, Rep. Ray Zirkelbach, D-Monticello, the bill's sponsor, said it doesn't change the law as it applies to so-called factory farms. It's a response to the Department of Natural Resources attempt to use its rules to require existing livestock facilities to be able to store 100-day's worth of manure.

Zirkelbach said the debate really is the same as it was a year ago when the Legislature approved limits on applying manure on snow- and ice-covered ground. Legislators thought rules should be made by lawmakers, not unelected bureaucrats, Zirkelbach said.

CCI members who championed the “poop on ice” last year “are outraged at this blatant attempt by corporate ag industry allies to push through an amendment that would destroy the ban without any transparency or public debate,” according to Executive Director Hugh Espey. "This bill is shameful, and CCI members are going to stop it dead in its tracks.”