Farmer says dairy regulations bad for industry

From the Clovis News-Journal - New dairy regulations recently put on hold by Gov. Susana Martinez were bad for the industry, according to local dairy owner Alva Carter Jr. In the 2009, state lawmakers adopted a bill requiring strict regulations on groundwater pollution prevention for New Mexico dairies. After a lengthy process, the state Water Quality Control Commission passed the regulations. But before the regulations could take effect, Martinez issued an executive order sending the regulations to a Small Business Task Force, effectively putting everything on hold. The task force will determine if the regulations inhibit job creation and business growth in the state, said Scott Darnell, communications director for the governor. There is a 90-day freeze on a number of regulations including the dairy rules while the task force reviews them, he said. Carter, who owns dairies near Portales and Muleshoe, said the dairy industry sought regulations because New Mexico Environment Department rules weren’t working and were inconsistent between dairies and regions. “It was more of a negotiation process,” he said of what procedures dairies had to follow. Carter said some parts of the new rules could damage the dairy industry and didn’t have science behind them. “What we need in New Mexico is we need to know we can protect groundwater at the least expensive cost,” he said. Read more

Farmer says dairy regulations bad for industry