New regulations that aim to reduce pollution in Michigan waterways from farm animal manure are in legal limbo, after an appeal from farming groups who argue the measures go too far.

A coalition including the Michigan Farm Bureau, other farming industry groups and individual farmers has filed an administrative challenge to Michigan's updated general permit for large animal farms, arguing that the state overstepped its regulatory authority by creating new pollution controls that limit their ability to spread manure on farm fields during the winter.

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy adopted the new regulations in a March revision of the state’s general permit for concentrated animal feeding operations, or CAFOs, after months of negotiations with industry group

See Full Page