Mother Nature helped farmers out earlier this week with drier weather so they could get out to their fields, but many are not out of trouble yet. A resolution addressing a potential manure spreading and storage emergency was withdrawn last month in Kewaunee County after getting some clarification from the Department of Natural Resources. The issues will likely still be there in the spring as the area recovers from two years of above-average rainfall. Rio Creek Feed Mill agronomist Adam Barta is already working with his farmers to plan for alternative strategies if it is wet for a third straight year.

In the meantime,  Ryan Erisman from the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection advises farmers to use its Runoff Risk Advisory Forecast, which takes into account future weather models, before heading out.

Residents have sounded off their concern at recent Land and Water Conservation Committee meetings citing possible groundwater contamination risks due to runoff and spill incidents.