EPA manure mess: Farmers left in limbo on paddock spreading rules

The EPA’s failure to give farmers clear answers on using manure as a fertiliser has created widespread confusion.

Kilmore farmer Kevin Butler says the EPA is an embarrassment when it comes to its manure rules. Picture: Chloe Smith

VICTORIA’S Environmental Protection Authority has left farmers in limbo on just how they can store, transport and use manure as a paddock fertiliser, which will be defined as industrial waste under new regulations coming into effect on July 1.

BlazeAid founder and Kilmore farmer Kevin Butler say it’s a disaster, given he spreads about 1000 cubic metres of poultry manure and litter on his property each year.

“I treat my farm and sheep like my vegetable garden — feed it well with balanced natural organic fertilisers and you will feel filled and contented when you eat,” Mr Butler said.

“The EPA wants to change the holistic nature of best practice farming — what an embarrassment they are.”

The EPA has issued a determination that states: “ruminants must not have access to manure application areas or storage areas as the material may be classed as a restricted animal material”.

Seymour Organic Fertilisers owner David Williams, who each year collects up to 40,000 cubic metres of chicken manure from 20 poultry operations across the Goulburn Valley to supply about 100 farms, said the EPA regulations hadn’t been thought through.

“About two-thirds of my customers are livestock producers,” Mr Williams said. “But they’re (EPA) saying grazing farms won’t be able to put manure on.”

The Weekly Times asked the EPA if it would amend the determination to allow farmers to spread chicken and other manures on pastures, on condition they were not grazed for at least three weeks, as is the industry standard.

And EPA spokesman said “the specifications of the proposed determination is consistent with existing biosecurity requirements that restrict ruminant access to manure application or storage area.

“EPA is seeking feedback from farmers as to whether there are alternative ways to manage the biosecurity and pathogen risks and whether the proposed specifications will be difficult for farmers to implement”.

The spokesman also said EPA legislation had always defined animal manure as industrial waste.

Yet the EPA’s Waste and Resource Recovery Determinations paper, released last month, stated: “the (old) Act 1970 does not make it clear that manures can be considered a waste by definition.

“This is clarified in the Act 2017 as the definition of waste will require manures to be addressed by the new waste framework expected to come into effect 1 July 2021”

The determination paper clearly states: “manures arising from commercial, industrial or trade activities are industrial waste for the purposes of the Act 2017 and must be deposited and received at a lawful place” from July 1 this year.

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