The Iowa Environmental Protection Commission has scheduled a series of public hearings for livestock producers and others to comment on a proposed rule limiting the amount of liquid manure that can be applied to ground being planted to soybeans.

Language for the proposed rule was approved and the public hearing and written comment dates were set by the EPC in a conference call meeting Dec. 12.

The public hearings are scheduled for:

• Feb. 6 at 5 p.m. at the Coralville Public Library, 1401 Fifth Street, Coralville
  
• Feb. 7 at 1 p.m. at the Wallace State Office Building, 5th Floor Conference Room, 502 E. 9th St., Des Moines
  
• Feb. 8 at 10 a.m. at the Carroll County Courthouse, 114 E. 6th Street, Carroll
  

Written comments on the proposed rule must be submitted by Feb. 8 to Gene Tinker, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Wallace State Office Building, 502 E. 9th St., Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0034; fax (515)281-8895; e-mail gene.tinker@dnr.state.ia.us.

The EPC voted Dec. 5 and again Dec. 12 to approve the proposal for public comment after hearing presentations at last month's meeting about the lack of credible evidence supporting a ban of manure application to soybeans.

The proposed rule reduces the amount of liquid manure application from the current rate of 3.8 pounds of nitrogen per bushel of soybean yield to 100 pounds of nitrogen per acre. The rule pertains to land to be planted to soybeans in a manure management plan.

Soybeans planted after June 1 of any year would not be subject to the 100-pound limit, the assumption being that soybeans planted after that date are due to a change in cropping plans because of weather delays. EPC also voted to include a ban on the practice after five years and approved a requirement to review any available evidence six months before the ban is to go into effect to determine if further or alternative action is necessary.

EPC will take a final vote on the proposal after the public comment period closes and DNR staff provides EPC with a summary of the comments and any recommendations based on those comments. In addition, the Legislature's Administrative Rules Review Committee is scheduled to review the proposal at its January meeting and will review the final rule after it is adopted by EPC.

The Iowa Pork Producers Association opposed the language originally proposed by EPC calling only for a ban on the practice and has commented at previous EPC meetings that a reduced rate for manure on soybeans is more appropriate than a ban. IPPA is reviewing the current EPC proposal and will provide comment to DNR and EPC. IPPA also will assist others interested in submitting comments.