Bill In Idaho Senate Would Look At Financial Implications Of Manure

Last week, a state senate panel approved legislation requiring Idaho officials to consider economic impact when imposing pollution regulations on farms and ranches because of the cattle manure produced. By a 5-3 vote, the bill moves to the full Senate for a vote. It’s estimated that the hundreds of thousands of cows across Idaho product more than 50 million pounds of manure daily.

Under the legislation, state officials would need to look at the financial implication of regulations when that manure is used as a fertilizer. The bill has been promoted by the Idaho Dairymen’s Association, Idaho Cattle Association, J.R. Simplot Co. and other agricultural groups. Opponents of the legislation site the fat that manure contains phosphorous which can pollute nearby waterways through direct runoff.

The legislation follows an unsuccessful attempt by agriculture groups to weaken current standards involving the amount of cow manure that can be put on fields. The Idaho State Department of Agriculture declined to weaken those standards, citing scientific research that sets best practices for pollution control.

According ISDA, Idaho cows produce about 13 billion pounds of milk annually valued at more than $2.2 billion. That makes it the state’s top agriculture industry.

Backers of the bill said pollution regulations shouldn’t be so onerous that they force ranches, farms and companies out of business — and that economic considerations need to be among the primary considerations before such rules are enacted to protect the environment.

Opponents said the new law will cause the Idaho State Department of Agriculture to put economic considerations ahead of protecting the environment. They also said it could jeopardize the state recently acquiring power from the federal government to regulate some aspects of water pollution.

South-central Idaho, where most of the state’s dairies are located, is home to about 425,000 dairy cows that produce an estimated 50 million pounds of cow manure per day. Overall, Idaho has about 600,000 cows.

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