By MEGGIE I. FOSTER
Assistant Editor

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — In a late-night session at the Indiana Statehouse, Hoosier legislators failed to reach an agreement on a bill to strengthen the state’s program to inspect and monitor confined livestock feeding operations (CFO).

Senate Bill 431 was laid to rest in conference committee on April 29 because conferees could not agree on whether the final bill should include a statewide setback requirement for all new confined livestock feeding facilities, according to Indiana Farm Bureau Media Relations Specialist Kathleen Dutro.

One of the key provisions and hot topic of debate provided “that a structure or manure treatment facility at a new CFO may not be constructed within one mile of the boundary of a school, a licensed health facility or a municipality.”

“We are disappointed legislators could not come to agreement on Senate Bill 431,” Villwock said. “The bill contained many components that were supported by farmers, environmental organizations and opponents to large livestock operations, and it’s unfortunate our lawmakers allowed this bill to die in conference committee.”

The bill, authored by Sen. Beverly Gard (R-Greenfield) would have provided that livestock farmers contribute about $500,000 to the inspection program through increased application fees and new annual operating fees.

Together with funds appropriated for livestock inspections in the 2007-09 biennial budget, this would have provided nearly $1 million in additional funds each year for the Indiana Department of Environmental Management’s livestock facility inspection program.

The Indiana Department of Environmental Management is the regulatory agency in the state of Indiana charged with permitting, rulemaking, compliance and monitoring environmental areas in land quality, air quality and water quality.

If passed by the General Assembly, the bill would have required IDEM increase the number of on-farm inspections and be more accountable in its management of the livestock compliance program.

Additionally, IDEM would have been asked to submit an annual report to the General Assembly on its activities particularly concerning confined livestock farms.

The bill came highly supported by many Indiana livestock groups including the Indiana Pork Producers Assoc. (IPPA), Indiana Professional Dairy Producers (IPDP) and the Indiana Beef Cattle Assoc. (IBCA).

A provision that would have specifically impacted the livestock industry includes the implementation of a voluntary certified livestock producer program to provide incentives and recognition for producers who use innovative environmental, animal health and general management practices.

Mike Platt, executive director for IPPA said that the state’s livestock producers will proceed to establish the realization of a certified livestock producer program through the Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA).

“We’re already in conversation with ISDA on moving the certified livestock program into high gear during this coming year,” said Platt.

An additional provision in the bill would have asked the Office of the State Chemist to oversee a training and certification program for people who apply manure as a nutrient fertilizer on farmland.

Julia Wickard, executive vice president of the IBCA said that the beef cattle industry supports the development of this program even though it will not be mandated by the General Assembly.

“The livestock industry will work with the State Chemist to make this program happen, even without the legislative mandate,” said Wickard.

The Indiana Soybean Alliance (ISA) and Indiana Corn Growers Assoc. also indicated tremendous disappointment in the demise of the bill.

According to ISA’s Executive Director Chris Novak, livestock is the top customer for the state’s corn and soybeans.

“Even though this bill has died, grain farmers are committed to seeing some of these proposed programs like the certified livestock producer and State Chemist’s manure fertilizer applicator programs implemented,” he said.

Even though the legislature couldn’t come to agreement on SB 431, the state’s leading agriculture groups such as Farm Bureau, ISA, IBCA, IPPA, IPDP and ISDA said they are committed to working together in order to ensure public confidence in Indiana’s confined livestock industry.

This farm news was published in the May 2, 2007 issue of Farm World, serving Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee.