The bill is clear that is does not apply to land used for agricultural production and there are numerous exceptions to establish grass during the first growing season or if a soil tests show the area is deficient in phosphorus, etc.

This may be a good thing.  In many areas, algae blooms from over-application of phosphorus lawn fertilizer is a major cause of water pollution, as we saw at Jersey Valley. What is most unsettling is Amendment 3  that was added in the Senate: "A political subdivision may not regulate the distribution or labeling...when that use is in accordance with agronomic directions on the labeling except that this prohibition does not apply to regulation under an ordinance in effect on the effective date of this subsection."

Madison environmentalists tell me that this clause is intended to relate only to Melorganite®, a private-brand of composted sewage sludge. Whether one supports this special-interest concern or not, do we really want this authority to be stripped from our local governments? And who says this amendment could not be interpreted to include the United Liquid Waste sludge pit and landspreading permit that we fought so hard just a couple of years ago.