By Patrick Lynn

The term “crappy roads” now has a new meaning.

According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, farms this year generated the largest volume of manure spills since 2007, including over 1 million gallons spilled on roadways from livestock operations. DNR officials say the accidental spills aren’t uncommon but the amount spilled is only a small fraction of the waste produced by cows.

DNR records show 905,505 gallons were spilled in 2008 but only 191,132 in 2012. The lack of consistency in those numbers, according to the DNR, makes it difficult to determine the cause or install additional precautionary measures.

Road spills are only part of the problem. Manure contains several contaminants including E. coli, phosphorus and nitrogen- all of which are harmful to public waterways and drinking water.

Over 300,000 gallons of manure had escaped into Six Mile Creek in southern Wisconsin before a ruptured pipe was discovered in Dane County in late November. The liquid manure was on its way to a facility which generates electricity for over 2,000 homes using the farm waste. Another large spill was recorded in February at the Arlington Agricultural Research Station that also released 300,000 gallons of manure when a pipe ruptured.

Five spills have occurred at Arlington since 2007, according to the DNR. Officials from that agency say spills are expected and they continue to monitor any affects on the water supply.