Madison, Wisc.-Agriculture and other sources of phosphorus and nutrient runoff will come under a new edict issued by the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board to reduce pollution that contributes to algae and weeds that foul the state’s beaches and waters. Natural Resources Secretary Matt Frank asserted, “Restoring healthy watersheds means cleaner beaches, more swimmable lakes, improved public health, healthier fisheries and wildlife habitat. Wisconsin’s beautiful lakes and streams support our economy, our recreation and our great quality of life.” But farmers and others affected won’t have to go it alone. Under existing Wisconsin law, the state will partner with the agriculture community, providing cost-sharing dollars. The Department of Natural Resources will work with county land conservation experts and farmers to help producers use the best management practices to curb pollution, all the while helping to promote the most cost-effective solutions. This means the state will provide up to 70 percent to share the farmers’ costs of implementing non-point pollution controls to meet the standards as part of a positive enforcement of the rules. It wasn’t clear, however, how agriculture and others will be affected by another part of the statewide regulations, which applies unique numeric water quality criteria for rivers, streams, and lakes that will be used to determine phosphorus levels to keep waters clear of algae and safe for recreational activities.
Transparency Across the Fertilizer Value-Chain