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Proposed nutrient management legislation lacks clarity

A draft of proposed changes to the Ohio Revised Code dealing with nutrient management has been released, but not yet introduced to the state legislature.

Larry Antosch, senior director of policy development and environmental policy at the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation talked with Brownfield about the changes.

“One part, under the Department of Agriculture focuses on developing a nutrient applicator certification program, similar to the restricted use pesticide applicator program,” Antosch said. “Basically if you’re going to be applying nutrients to more than 10 acres, you will have to have a certification.”

Antosch says the concern with the changes being proposed by the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) and Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) is the lack of clarity.

“For example, the program that would be established to certify farmers to be able to apply nutrients, the details are all being left to a future rule making process,” Antosch said. “So, we have some general concepts, but we don’t know the details.”

The comment period on the proposed draft changes ends this Friday, April 5.

Audio: Larry Antosch, Ohio Farm Bureau Federation (9:05 mp3)

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