Transcript Nutrient Management Law Changes, They Are Coming

Nutrient Management on
Horse Operations
Doug Goodlander
PA State Conservation Commission
Lebanon Valley Ag Center
October 15, 2008
Animal Operations in PA
 All Animal Operations (AOs)
All operations generating/utilizing manure
 Concentrated Animal
Operations (CAOs)
AOs (23,000+)
CAOs (1,300+)
Based on animal density
CAFOs (300+)
 Concentrated Animal Feeding
Operations (CAFOs)
Based on animal numbers and/or animal density
Animal Operations in PA
 All Animal Operations (AOs)
All operations generating/utilizing manure
 Concentrated Animal
Operations (CAOs)
AOs (23,000+)
CAOs (1,300+)
Based on animal density
CAFOs (300+)
 Concentrated Animal Feeding
Operations (CAFOs)
Based on animal numbers and/or animal density
AOs
Pa’s Clean Streams Law
All farms producing or using manure (including
horse farms) need the following:

Manure (nutrient) management plans
Addresses:

Manure application: cannot apply more than the crop can use

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Nitrogen and phosphorus concerns
Nutrient balance sheet can help with this assessment
Manure storage and exercise areas: cannot allow these areas to
run polluted water into streams, wells, etc.
No need for review or approval

Conservation plan required for plowing or tilling

More emphasis on these smaller farms

Especially horse farms, and cattle farms next to streams
Animal Operations in PA
 All Animal Operations (AOs)
All operations generating/utilizing manure
 Concentrated Animal
Operations (CAOs)
AOs (23,000+)
CAOs (1,300+)
Based on animal density
CAFOs (300+)
 Concentrated Animal Feeding
Operations (CAFOs)
Based on animal numbers and/or animal density
CAOs
Major Regulatory Provisions
Who is regulated under Act 38? Concentrated
Animal Operations (CAOs)
High density livestock operations, including
pleasure & recreation (horse boarding)
 > 2,000 lbs animal live weight per acre
 Excludes any operation < 8 AEUs

8 horses (non-draft breeds)
Volunteer participation is encouraged
How does this CAO calculation work out for the
small operation?
CAOs
Regulated Equine Operations
(Must be both > 8,000 lbs and > 2,000 lbs/acre)
Examples:
 5 horses on 2 acres (5,000 lbs/2 acres = 2,500 lbs per acre)
 High density, but not > 8,000 lbs - not a regulated CAO
 9 horses on 5 acres (9,000 lbs/5 acres = 1,800 lbs per acre)
 > 8,000 lbs, but not high density - not a regulated CAO
 10 horses on 4 acres (10,000 lbs/4 acres= 2,500 lbs per acre)
 > 8,000 lbs and high density - this is a regulated CAO
CAOs
Major Regulatory Provisions
Who is regulated? Concentrated Animal
Operations (CAOs)
High density livestock operations, including
pleasure & recreation (horse boarding)
 > 2,000 lbs animal live weight per acre
 Excludes any operation < 8 AEUs

7 horses (non-draft breeds)
Volunteer (VAO) participation is encouraged
What are these operations required to have?
Standard format, Nutrient Management Plan
 Developed by certified planners
 Reviewed and approved by conservation district
CAOs
Major Regulatory Provisions
Nutrients included in NMPs:
Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K)
N and P are the only regulated nutrients
 N application:

N may be tied up in excessive bedding
 P application: P Index analysis (not a big issue)


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Near streams for pastures (BAD)
Fields are generally grass based (GOOD)
N/P ratio of manure (GOOD)

12/5 horse, 10/4 diary, 50/55 pig, 66/63 broiler, 37/55 layer
K included for operator’s information
 General fertility
 Animal health
CAOs
Major Regulatory Provisions
Year-round manure application setbacks:
Applies to mechanical application only
100’ setback or 35’ setback
 35’ setback only applies if a permanent vegetated buffer exists
or is established adjacent to (good pasture counts as buffer):
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
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perennial and intermittent streams
lakes and ponds
existing open sinkholes
100’ setback for private and public drinking water
wells/springs
 No 35’ setback/buffer option

Much horse manure is animal applied, therefore not
terribly relevant
CAOs
Major Regulatory Provisions
 Winter manure application restrictions:
 Winter manure application fields and conditions
must be listed and approved in the NM plan
 Winter application fields must have at least 25%
cover (residue or live plants)
 Must follow additional winter application setbacks:
 100’ from intakes to ag drainage systems and EV
wetlands
 Most manure applied by animals so not a big issue,
but then again not many with storage over winter
CAOs
Major Regulatory Provisions
 Manure exporting requirements:
 Signed Agreements (standard form)
 Exporter/Importer or Exporter/Broker
 Nutrient Balance Sheets addressing N and P (map)
 Nitrogen applications limited to crop uptake
 3 options to address Phosphorus management
 Commercial haulers/brokers must be certified under Act 49
 Commercial Hauler statement required in NMP
 Small quantity exclusion from export requirements
 25 tons solid non-poultry manure
 5 tons solid poultry manure
 10,000 gallons liquid manure
 Marketable manure, brokers are normal, and for many
operations export can fall under low quantity exclusion
CAOs
Major Regulatory Provisions
 Manure stacking restrictions:
 Big for horse operations, their manure is “stackable”
 Traditional vs. In-field stacking
 Traditional stacking


Storage – awaiting disposal or land application
Adjacent to facility – proper location extremely important
 In-field stacking must address the following:

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Maximum of 120 days without covering

14 days for CAFOs
Cone or windrow shaped
Location identified on the NMP or NBS maps
Not within 150’ of streams, lakes, ponds, wells, sinkholes
Not on excessively drained soils, or high water table
Not on slopes > 8%
Not in water concentration areas
Stacking area rotated annually

Unless using an “improved” stacking area
CAOs
Major Regulatory Provisions
 Pastures vs. Animal Concentration Areas (ACAs)
 This is a biggie for horse operations
 Pasture: A livestock area managed primarily for
forage production
 Stocking rate must address N balance and P-index
 ACA: Will not maintain a growing crop, or where
nutrients are deposited in excess of crop N needs
 Adjust stocking rate to meet “pasture” definition, or
 Implement BMPs to protect water quality
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Collect and land-apply manure
Implement upslope surface water and roof runoff BMPs
Implement runoff collection/treatment BMPs
Restrict livestock access to surface water
CAOs
Act 38 Summary
 New Act 38 regulations went into effect on Oct 1, 2006
 Existing horse CAOs must submit their plan now,
volunteers can submit at any time.

Need to hire a planner,

Get soil tests

Get a conservation plan

Submit the plan to the conservation district
 An approved plan may make you eligible for funding to
implement the plan
Animal Operations in PA
 All Animal Operations (AOs)
All operations generating/utilizing manure
 Concentrated Animal
Operations (CAOs)
Based on animal density
 Concentrated Animal Feeding
Operations (CAFOs)
Based on animal numbers and/or animal density
AOs (23,000+)
CAOs (1,300+)
CAFOs (300+)
CAFOs
Pa’s CAFO Program
 Federal program delegated to DEP to administer
 Regulates larger animal operations (CAFOs)


> 300 and a CAO (300 horses, etc.), or
Meet EPA animal numbers
 500 horses
 Requires operation permit (NPDES) from DEP

Individual or general
 Generally, same Nutrient Management Plan as CAOs:

application rates, setbacks, fall/winter restrictions, exported manure
requirements, field stacking requirements, etc
 But, additional restrictions on CAFOs relating to:

Setbacks required on more than just flowing streams, etc

14 day in-field stacking limitation without covering or improved area
AOs
CAOs
CAFOs
In conclusion…
All animal farms

Manure Management Plan, Ag E&S Plan
Application, storage and barnyard
No formal plan approvals required
High density animal farms (CAOs)

Nutrient Management Plan, Ag E&S Plan
Plan approval required
Manure application setback restrictions
Exported manure requirements
Large animal farms (CAFOs)

Nutrient Management Plan, Ag E&S Plan, DEP Permit
Same plan requirements as CAOs
Additional setback requirements
Is that all I need to worry about
No, neighbor relations is key to longevity:
 Flies and odors:
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Clean up after your horses
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Keep manure dry (bedding, keep water from the manure)
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Compost your manure
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Keep a buffer from your neighbors
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Cover the manure pile
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Fly control products (strips, traps)
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Frequent application (7 day life cycle)
The wrap up

The bottom line is, horse operations need to be
good neighbors
1.
Address water quality
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2.
Address flies and other vectors
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3.

Nutrient or manure mgmt plan
 Storage, application and barnyards
Conservation plan for row crop fields
Approved plans or permits where necessary
Housekeeping and general water mgmt is key
Odor management is important
You need to make sure you are a good neighbor…
for your own good and for the good of the industry
The End
Any
Questions or
Comments?