County OKs animal waste ordinance update

The Marathon County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved an update to its animal waste ordinance that is hoped will improve the county’s chances of winning additional conservation grants from the Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

The ordinance clarifies language regarding enforcement of state agricultural performance standards. It also includes a five-foot tillage setback from streams or wetlands.

Paul Daigle, county conservation program manager, told supervisors on Thursday the county would have won a $411,000 grant to reduce agricultural run-off in the Fenwood Creek Subwatershed but lost points because the county ordinance was not drafted correctly.

Daigle said the ordinance change was discussed at two public hearings, including one held in Stratford. A mailing sent to over 900 county farmers detailed what he said were minor changes to county ordinances.

The program manager said the five-foot tillage setback will not have much if any impact on farming practices. Farmers generally do not till that close to streams anyway, he said, due to rocks and trees.