Groups at odds over proposed nitrate pollution rules for farmers in northeast Oregon

After decades of farm and food processing pollution contaminating groundwater in northeast Oregon, state regulators are proposing new monitoring and testing rules for large farms in the area.

But some of the groups invited to help in the drafting of the rules are at odds over what’s been proposed. In comments shared with the Oregon Department of Agriculture and the Oregon Board of Agriculture shortly before the new year, farm groups opposed to the rules told regulators they go too far, while others contended they don’t go far enough.

The proposed rules, if adopted later this year, would require farmers in the Lower Umatilla Groundwater Basin spanning parts of Morrow and Umatilla Counties, to create a plan to manage nitrate levels in their soil and to test annually at least 10% of fields, keeping records of those plans and subsequent soil testing for at least five years in case the agriculture department chooses to audit.

Farmers would not be required to submit plans but could be investigated if the state agriculture agency receives a complaint regarding practices that may violate the rules, according to agency spokesperson Andrea Cantu-Schomus.

She added that agency officials are still evaluating public comments and determining any needed changes.