Spreading Log The newsletter of the Professional Nutrient Applicators Association of Wisconsin April 10, 2002 URGENT: DOT changes enforcement of axle weights URGENT: Comments requested on 590 Nutrient Management Standard Anti-Foaming Agents for Manure CD Rom of Meeting presentations, free email available Changes in Board Members DOT and Axle Weights Enclosed is a must-read letter from Association President Jim Mann. The association has learned that the DOT, as a result of a several year old case in south central Wisconsin, is going to start enforcing axle weights on all farm equipment, regardless of whether flotation tires are used. Past President Dana Cook has met with the Dept of Ag on this issue, and they are aware of the potential impact on not only manure hauling, but the dairy industry. We are also working closely with Houle Corporation, which was able to fight back similar regulations in Iowa several years ago. ANY comments or suggestions you may have would be appreciated, and should be directed to Jim Mann. A summary of the regulations was presented at the Appleton meeting—See CD Rom info for details on how to get a copy. The board will be discussion this issue at the June 11 board meeting. Comments requested on Revised 590 Standard by April 19 or May 1 Enclosed is a copy of the final draft of the 590 Standard. This is the Wisconsin version of the USDA standard, and as such, is the basis for how nutrient management plans are written. The Association has had a board member on the revision committee, but we wanted to give everyone a chance to review this document that will impact ALL of your operations. The attached letter says that comments are due by April 19, however, due to a delay in publication in the Federal Register, the final drop-dead date for comments is approximately May 1. While it is soon, April 19 is the preferred date, as the committee meets the following Tuesday week to review the received comments. Major changes for applicators include (but are not limited to): Applications on soils >100 ppm soil test phosphorus may be limited to crop removal (8,000 gal dairy / acre for corn grain, 11,000 gal/acre silage) Setback changed to 300 ft (was 200 ft) for frozen soil application near a river, 1000 ft for a lake. On highly permeable soils, including, but not limited to sands, those with <20 inches to bed rock or 12 inches to the water table, manure and fertilizer nitrogen applications are limited to 90#/acre (9,000 gallons) in the fall if soils are warmer than 50 degrees, 120# N (12,000 gal/acre) if <50 degrees. This is your chance to make your voice heard before the standard becomes law. Questions should be directed to Kevin Erb or Dana Cook Anti-Foaming Agents for Manure Tanks Two companies have approached the association about testing anti-foaming agents in manure tankers and trucks. If any paid member is interested in working with either of these two companies on a trial basis, please let Kevin Erb know. CD Rom of annual meeting available and other membership benefits “Membership has it’s privileges”. Current full and associate members can request a CD Rom of all the presentations and handouts from the Annual meeting by contacting Kevin Erb at 920.391.4652. This CD includes the DOT info. Also available to members is a free email address and business link to the Association’s web site (FirmName@wimanuremgt.org). Contact Chris Lindstrom at chris@wimanuremgt.org. Our association website is still under construction at this time. Changes in the Board At the March 19 board meeting, Kurt Mann was appointed by the board to hold the central region representative position. Due to the fact that Donny Mengel is not actively involved in manure hauling, he is ineligible to serve, as per the by-laws adopted at the January meeting. Donny is eligible to resume his office once he returns to active hauling.