Farmers and other concerned citizens have an additional two weeks, until August 15th, to comment on the Dayton administration’s proposed rule restricting fall application of nitrogen fertilizer in areas with porous soils. State Ag Department Assistant Commissioner Susan Stokes says the original regulation proposed last year covered private wells and townships, but now in the revised rule, “We’re gonna continue to work with local communities in those areas where there’s elevated nitrate on a voluntary basis, but there will be no regulation in the private wells and the townships.”
Republicans tried last session to cancel the rule. They were unsuccessful but could try again, depending on the outcome of the fall elections. The last of the public hearings on the proposed rule are Wednesday morning in Saint Cloud and Thursday morning in Park Rapids.