HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 2004 (24) RESOLUTION REQUESTING GOVERNOR )IM DOYLE TO DIRECT THE
WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE TO REVISE THE MILK VOLUME
PRODUCTION (MVP) PROGRAM IN ORDER TO PROTECT WATER QUALTIY
Resolution No. 0 -I Cab o4)
St. Croix County, Wisconsin
WHEREAS, the Wisconsin Department of Commerce makes available, through its Milk
Volume Production (MVP) Program, public funding in the form of loans to Wisconsin
dairy producers who are undertaking capital improvements resulting in significant long-
term increases in Wisconsin's capacity to produce milk; and
WHEREAS, the eligible project costs for loans through the MVP Program are limited to
acquiring dairy cows; and
WHEREAS, the MVP Program is meant to be a collaboration between the applicant, the
Department of Commerce, and the local municipality (typically a county); and
WHEREAS, the county is required to execute loan documents with the applicant; and
WHEREAS, the nutrients contained in cow manure, such as nitrogen and phosphorus,
can pollute groundwater and surface water when the manure is not managed properly;
and
WHEREAS, the public has a reasonable expectation that dairy producers receiving
public funding to enlarge their dairy herds should not threaten the quality of
Wisconsin's waters; and
WHEREAS, in order to protect the state's groundwater and surface water quality, care
must be taken to ensure that manure generated by dairy producers is stored and
managed so that it can most safely decompose and its nutrients can be utilized by
plants without the threat of water quality degradation.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the St. Croix County Board of Supervisors
respectfully requests that Governor Jim Doyle direct the Wisconsin Department of
Commerce to amend its rules relating to future loan applications through its Milk
Volume Production (MVP) Program, to require that:
1. An applicant submit a nutrient management plan (in accordance with USDA
Natural Resources Conservation Service Standard 590 — Nutrient
Management) for approval by the local municipality participating in the loan
award, prior to the loan funds being disbursed to the applicant;
2. The applicant be required to submit a revised Nutrient Management Plan to
the participating municipality for review annually;
3. The applicant be required to demonstrate the effectiveness of, implement and
comply with submitted plans for the proper management of all cow manure
generated by the dairy producer in a manner which will ensure water quality
protection;
4. The applicant be in compliance with the statewide Agricultural Performance
Standards and Manure Management Prohibitions found in Subchapter II of
Chapter NR -151, Wis. Adm. Code.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Governor direct the Wisconsin Department of
Commerce to revise the Milk Volume Production (MVP) loan program to ensure that the
contemplated rules revisions adequately protects the quality of Wisconsin's waters;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the
Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Commerce and the Secretary of the
Wisconsin Department of Agriculture.
Reviewed e 1
Greg Timmerman, orporation Counsel
Offered by the Land and Water Conservation Committee on August 17, 2004
NEGATIVE AFFIRMATIVE
iii -
'l
i11
Gurus fly:
.
7 /
91 1 ,< -- (i-----ef- `-..,'"-----
1 ;,21
ADOPTED ON: At( J u t 17 a6O�
0—iuk`cly (
Cindy Campbell, County Clerk