Marathon County conservation staff said state agencies are reviewing draft animal-waste ordinance amendments and DATCP recommended changing the medium/large farm threshold from “300–999 animal units” to “300 or more” to avoid ambiguity for farms in the 1,000-unit permitting limbo; staff supported the change and said the draft may not reach the State Land and Water Board until June.

Marathon County conservation staff asked the Environmental Resources Committee to delay voting on a proposed animal-waste and cropland management ordinance after learning a state agency’s legal counsel may require cost share for proposed buffers; staff outlined nutrient-management training, incentives and a possible winter‑spreading license.

County conservation staff reviewed proposed updates to Chapter 11.2 that would require 35-foot buffers adjacent to streams, impose seasonal limits on winter spreading for mid/large farms, establish a permit for winter spreading for operators without nutrient management plans and contemplate delayed implementation to allow transition.