U.S. Water News Online
DES MOINES, Iowa-- The state's Environmental Protection Commission is closer to implementing a ban on the spreading of manure on land planted with soybeans.
The commission met recently and instructed the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to craft a notice that begins the rule-making process for the ban.
If the rules change is approved, it could have a big effect on the farming community. Row crop farmers use manure as fertilizer, and livestock producers get rid of tons of animal waste by applying it to fields.
Environmentalists have argued that soybeans don't need the nutrients provided by manure. They say that its application on soybean fields creates nitrate pollution by leaving too much nitrogen in the soil, which then runs off into the state's waterways -- some of the most nitrogen-rich waters in the world.
Some scientists say the fecal bacteria that winds up in rivers and lakes can suck up oxygen, killing fish, and create threats to human health.
"Many people will say that soybeans don't need the fertilizer anyway, and that's the whole reason for this" discussion, said Randy Clark, an attorney with the DNR. "The rest of the debate is: even if they don't need it, will this hurt?"
He said the ban would go into effect three years after its approval for existing soybean fields. It remains to be seen whether such a ban would cause many row crop farmers to switch their fields from soybeans to corn, which absorbs more nitrogen.
"There's a lot of study that's going to be done," Clark said.
Tracy Blackmer, director of research for the Iowa Soybean Association, said scientific studies show that soybeans do use the nutrients in manure. State regulators should focus on proper application techniques, not an outright ban, he said.
As long as the producer follows the appropriate guidelines, he said, "it is no different than other sound management practices."
Blackmer said the issue has become politicized, and could hurt farmers who rotate crops. "It creates more obstacles," he said. "Obviously, when you are applying manure, it has several years of value of nutrients in it."
Some state estimates show that about half of livestock farmers in Iowa indicated in manure-management plans that they may spread manure on soybean fields. However, state inspections show the actual percentage at any time is probably 10 percent to 20 percent. Some industry groups claim the numbers are even lower.
The DNR will craft a notice of intended action for approval at the EPC's November meeting. If approved, a public comment period would begin. The EPC would likely not make a final vote on the issue until next year, and then the Legislature's Administrative Rules Review Committee would take a look at the changes, and could block or delay them.
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