Group Asks DNR To Halt Overhead Manure Application To Fields

Citizen groups are asking state health officials to block a plan to spray manure onto fields using overhead irrigators.

The use of rolling irrigation machines that usually spray water for spreading liquid manure on farm fields first triggered controversy about a year ago. The aerial spraying of manure continues on a few Wisconsin farms, but citizen groups want to stop a large farm near Algoma from using its new aerial spraying permit for a DNR-backed research effort.

Lynn Utesch of Kewaunee Cares says if the spraying is allowed there, more large farms across Wisconsin would want to do the same thing. “The spray irrigation of manure opens up a whole new issue with additional odors,” Utesch said.

Utesch also worries about more ammonia getting into water and disease-producing viruses being spread.

Utesch and about two dozen other people have signed a letter to state Health Secretary Kitty Rhoades, asking her to prevent the test spraying in Kewaunee County.

The Sustain Rural Wisconsin Network wants a manure irrigation workgroup coordinated by UW-Extension to make some recommendations first. That panel meets again Monday in Madison.