Farm operators plead guilty to negligence in manure spill

Operators of an eastern Iowa dairy farm have pleaded guilty to negligence in connection with some manure spills in Benton County. The state sued Cedar Valley Farms for several environmental violations. Two manure spills occurred about this time last year; two more happened in November and another happened just about two months ago. The firm, formerly known as Sunrise Dairy Farms, is located just south of Blairstown. It’s a confinement operation with a milking facility. The court has ordered Cedar Valley Farms to pay 131-thousand dollars in penalties and restitution for “negligently discharging manure into the waters of the state.” The company’s now in what amounts to a probation period. For the next two years, Cedar Valley Farms is supposed to pay all those court fines and fees and make sure there are no more manure spills or the case will be re-opened.