John Henderer, The Chronicle, 7/17/98
The state Department of Ecology has issued a $7,000 fine against an Onalaska dairy farm as part of a compliance sweep of dairies in the Chehalis River Basin.
Deskins Farms, owned by Jim Deskins, is appealing the fine, asking Ecology to allow the farm to spend the penalty money on making improvements.
"We've already taken care of part the problem," said Kyle Deskins, farm manager. "Now I got a farm and I know what I got to do." The fine comes as another blow the operation, which was hit by vandalism in March. Someone penicillin into a truckload of milk from the dairy, contaminating it.
Ecology inspectors found the farmers"
Failed to keep livestock off fields between October and March;
Allowed leachate from manure to flow into a ditch that feeds Carlisle Lake, which also flows into Newaukum River, a Chehalis tributary;
Had not fully implemented its 1991 farm plan, nor restored the use of an abandoned sewage lagoon.
Deskins Farms milks 130 cows out of about 160 milkers altogether. Deskins Farms was the only one 54 dairies in the Chehalis River Basin to receive a fine as part of the sweep.
Ecology is placing greater emphasis on dairy farms because of ems about clean water and fishes issues.
Kyle Deskins, 24, said he started managing the farm in the early part of this year, taking over from an outside manager. He has faced several challenges.
"I know things are not right there, but I want to correct them and make a go of it" he said "People are determined for me not to be able to do this."
The penicillin setback came as a blow, Deskins said.
The vandalism could have killed someone allergic to penicillin if he or she were to ingest it said Dr. Tom Bell, county health officer.
Deskins complied with Ecology's order to submit an updated farm plan by Wednesday, and he must fully implement it by Oct. 31.
He said he will be able to comply with the order.
Deskins said the leachate into Carlisle Lake occurred because of rainwater runoff, and he took care of the problem "right away."
"I have been working my tail end off there," he said. "I got a long battle ahead of me, but I'm bound and determined to milk cows."
The farm has three active sewage lagoons, which are used to only about 40 percent of their capacity, Deskins said, noting he could expand the operation.
"The concern that we have," said Ecology's Marilou Pivirotto, "is the dairy has been very poorly managed in the past."
Pivirotto said Deskins' new farm plan is "very good."
"It's certainly not impossible (to turn around), but he has his feet to the fire right now," said Pivirotto.
Ecology has set a Sept. 24 hearing date to hear Deskins' appeal.
John Henderer covers county government and environmental issues for The Chronicle. He can be reached by e-mail at jhenderer@chronline.com or by calling 807-8239.