It is my understanding that those cases will be decided on an individual basis. Weather is not an excuse for a blanket exemption to all farmers. From: Donna Buell Sent: Sunday, December 27, 2009 8:01 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: DM Register-Manure on frozen ground hearings Does anyone know about the "Weather" exemption? This would be a year for CAFOs to claim a free pass? Wet fall, late in getting crops in, heavy snow early... cesspools must be emptied... oh wait, the cesspool is too small for all the pigs overcrowded in the confinement, better just dump on the snow... ???? Am I being pessimistic? Thanks, Donna On Dec 27, 2009, at 7:22 AM, Phyllis Mains wrote: The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has scheduled six hearings in January and early February around the state to gather comments on rules governing manure applications on frozen and snow-covered ground, which are part of a larger livestock rule package proposed by DNR. The rules, which were approved in November by the Iowa Environmental Protection Commission, were drafted from legislation passed in the 2009 session by the Iowa Legislature and signed by Gov. Chet Culver. They limit the application of liquid manure on frozen ground from Feb. 1 to April 1 and on snow-covered ground from Dec. 21 through April 1. The measure provided exemptions for farmers facing unusual circumstances, such as weather or storage capacity limits, to apply manure under a plan approved by the DNR. The legislation exempts livestock operations that are 500 units or smaller. The proposed DNR rules would take effect in the winter of 2010-11. The schedule for DNR hearings is: Jan. 12, 4:30 p.m., at the Orange City Gymnasium, 125 Central Ave. S.E. in Orange City. Jan. 13, 1:30 p.m., Room 115 at Northeast Iowa Community College, Iowa Highway 150 south of Calmar. Jan. 15, 11 a.m., at the Wallace State Office Building Auditorium, 502 E. Ninth St., in Des Moines. Jan. 15, 4:30 p.m., at the Cass County Community Center, 805 W. 10th St., in Atlantic. Jan. 20, 1:30 p.m., at the Marr Park Conservation Center, 2943 Iowa Highway 92 in Ainsworth. Feb. 1, 1:30 p.m. at the North Iowa Area Community College Muse-Norris Conference Center, 500 College Drive in Mason City. Crop Advantage Series to discuss soybean aphids Iowa State University Extension will hold its ninth annual Crop Advantage Series meetings at 13 locations across Iowa in January. Erin Hodgson, an ISU Extension field crop entomologist, will discuss the latest management strategies against soybean aphids with producers at each meeting. In addition, each location features a full agenda of topics for attendees. Advance registration for each location is $35 and includes workshop materials, lunch and refreshments. An additional fee is charged for Certified Crop Advisers credits and private pesticide applicator recertification. Registration less than one week before the meeting or at the door is $45. Registration materials are available at www.cropadvantage.org or from local ISU Extension offices. 2010 schedule: Jan. 5, Sheldon; Jan. 6, Osceola; Jan. 7, Fort Dodge; Jan. 8, Burlington; Jan. 12, Ames; Jan. 13, Mason City; Jan. 14, Spirit Lake; Jan. 19, Storm Lake; Jan. 20, Ottumwa; Jan. 21, Cedar Rapids; Jan. 26, Carroll; Jan. 27, Waterloo; Jan. 28, Atlantic. Crop fairs scheduled throughout state The Iowa Corn Growers Association and the Iowa Corn Promotion Board will host 14 free crop fairs across Iowa this winter. "Our crop fairs are an established tradition for many growers," said Don Mason, who is the groups' director of grower services. Go to the Corn Growers Web site at www.iowacorn.org/aspx/Public/HotTopic/HotTopicItem.aspx?item_id=16 for more information. Dates and locations for the fairs are: Jan. 5 in Guthrie Center. Jan. 6 in Cedar Rapids. Jan. 8 in Humeston. Jan. 9 in Burlington. Jan. 14 in Fayette. Jan. 19 in Marshalltown. Jan. 21 in Missouri Valley. Jan. 22 in Bassett. Feb. 5 in Elkader. Feb. 5 in Paullina. Feb. 13 in Wall Lake. Feb. 18 in Fort Dodge. March 3 in Fairfield March 12 in Shenandoah. ____________________________________________________________ Criminal Lawyer Criminal Lawyers - Click here. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To unsubscribe from the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to: [log in to unmask] Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To unsubscribe from the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to: [log in to unmask] Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To unsubscribe from the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to: [log in to unmask] Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp