Michigan Manure Rules Implemented Improperly, Court Says (2)

Big farms challenging strict manure management rules have a roadmap for undoing them after a Michigan court said the new permitting mandates were put in place without proper procedures.

That message came in a technical loss for a group of more than 100 farmers suing Michigan regulators for tightening concentrated animal feeding operation permits. The Michigan Court of Appeals ruled Thursday that the plaintiffs didn’t follow the proper procedure to bring a challenge. The companies, represented by the Michigan Farm Bureau, needed to ask state environmental regulators for a “declaratory ruling” under state law before suing, the three-judge panel said. ...