This bill amends the Livestock Waste Management Act by introducing new requirements for large concentrated animal feeding operations regarding their nutrient management plans. Specifically, it mandates that these operations register their plans with the department and update them annually, with all documentation made publicly available on the department's website. Additionally, the bill stipulates that cover crops must be planted on any acres where livestock waste or litter is applied, unless there are existing perennial cover crops. The costs for establishing and maintaining these cover crops will be borne by the entity implementing the nutrient management plan, which is also encouraged to adopt regenerative agricultural practices.

Furthermore, the bill requires the establishment of a minimum thirty-foot perennial-grass buffer between areas of livestock waste application and adjacent waterways. The costs for this buffer's establishment and maintenance will also be the responsibility of the entity implementing the nutrient management plan. Additionally, the entity must compensate landowners for production losses on buffered acres, with compensation rates determined by the department. The original section of the law being amended is repealed as part of this legislative update.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 54-2416