1. Pa’s Revised Manure Management Manual Dauphin County Conservation District Phone: 717.921.8100 www.dauphincd.org http://panutrientmgmt.cas.edu February 2012

2. 2 Proper Manure Management, it’s a good idea  Get the maximum use of your on-farm resources  Manure has: Organic matter (water holding, nutrient holding, soil microbes) Organic matter (water holding, nutrient holding, soil microbes) Micro/Secondary nutrients (Calcium, Magnesium, Sulfur, Zinc, etc) Micro/Secondary nutrients (Calcium, Magnesium, Sulfur, Zinc, etc) Macro nutrients (N – P – K) Macro nutrients (N – P – K)  The value of manure based on N-P-K value alone is: ($287/cow/yr); ($785/1000 broilers); ($34/hog/yr) ($287/cow/yr); ($785/1000 broilers); ($34/hog/yr) Proper management is also required by law  All farms that use manure have state requirements, requirements vary based on farm scope  In the past, the emphasis was on larger operations, new emphasis will be on smaller operations

3. 3 Animal Operations in PA CAFOs (365+)  All Animal Operations (AOs) All operations generating/utilizing manure * Regulated by PA DEP  Concentrated Animal Operations (CAOs) High animal density farms farms > 2,000 lbs/acre animal density * Regulated by PA SCC  Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) Based on animal numbers and/or animal density Farms > 1,000 AEUs, CAOs > 300 AEUs, EPA head #’s * Regulated by PA DEP (for US EPA) CAOs (1,050+) AOs (40,000+) Approved nutrient mgmt plan CAFO permit from DEP Certified planner Public access Approved nutrient mgmt plan Certified planner Public access

4. 4 Manure management on smaller farms  All farms generating/using manure must have a manure mgmt plan ( or Nutrient Mgmt Plan, CNMP plan ) Includes very small (one horse) operations and operations without any animals as long as manure is spread there Includes very small (one horse) operations and operations without any animals as long as manure is spread there Must be a written plan (including farm map), kept on site Must be a written plan (including farm map), kept on site No submission and no approval required No submission and no approval required Can be written by farmer or other non-certified individual Can be written by farmer or other non-certified individual New DEP approved standardized planning includes: New DEP approved standardized planning includes: N and P application rates, N and P application rates, Application setbacks, winter application Application setbacks, winter application Pastures, Barnyard runoff Pastures, Barnyard runoff Storage and stacking criteria Storage and stacking criteria AOs

5. Manure Application Rates  3 options for developing manure rates: 1) Use manure application charts (easy, but not farm specific) N based if current soil test < 200 ppm P N based if current soil test < 200 ppm P P based if > 200 ppm P or no soil test (approx 1/3 N rate) P based if > 200 ppm P or no soil test (approx 1/3 N rate) No certified planner required No certified planner required Based on crop and manure type Based on crop and manure type 2) Use Nutrient Balance Sheet worksheet (harder but site specific) N based if 200 ppm P or no soil test N based if 200 ppm P or no soil test No certified specialist required No certified specialist required 3) Use the PA Phosphorus-Index (most complex but most flexible) Will need to use an authorized planner Will need to use an authorized planner N or P based dependent on the results of the P-index N or P based dependent on the results of the P-index May allow for N based application on soils with > 200 ppm P May allow for N based application on soils with > 200 ppm P

6. Application Rate, Charts Nitrogen Based Liquid Dairy Finding rate for spring applied liquid dairy manure on 23 ton corn silage

7. Manure Application Setbacks  Year-round manure application setbacks Only relevant to mechanical manure application Only relevant to mechanical manure application No setbacks for pasturesNo setbacks for pastures 100’ manure application setbacks established for 100’ manure application setbacks established for Streams; (at times when water flows in these channels)Streams; (at times when water flows in these channels) Lakes, ponds, existing open sinkholesLakes, ponds, existing open sinkholes Private or public drinking water sourcePrivate or public drinking water source Setback may be reduced for streams, lakes, ponds: Setback may be reduced for streams, lakes, ponds: 100’ if not using no-till and cover crops and no buffer100’ if not using no-till and cover crops and no buffer 50’ if < 200 ppm P, using no-till and cover crop, but no buffer50’ if < 200 ppm P, using no-till and cover crop, but no buffer 35’ setback if using a permanent veg buffer next to stream35’ setback if using a permanent veg buffer next to stream

8. Winter Spreading Restrictions  “Winter” is anytime any one of the following are true: The date is on or between Dec. 15 to Feb. 28, or The date is on or between Dec. 15 to Feb. 28, or The ground is frozen 4 inches or more, or The ground is frozen 4 inches or more, or The ground is snow covered The ground is snow covered  A maximum application rate for the winter months : 5,000 gallons per acre of liquid manure 5,000 gallons per acre of liquid manure 20 tons per acre dry non-poultry manure 20 tons per acre dry non-poultry manure 3 tons per acre dry poultry manure 3 tons per acre dry poultry manure  25% plant or residue cover at application time  No winter application on slopes steeper than 15% A, B and C slopes acceptable A, B and C slopes acceptable

9. Pasture Management  Pastures on the farm must be included in plan Pastures are a crop field that must be nutrient balanced. Pastures are a crop field that must be nutrient balanced.  Pastures need to be properly managed by either: Maintaining dense vegetation including always having at least 3” growth during growing season, or Maintaining dense vegetation including always having at least 3” growth during growing season, or Implementing a grazing plan meeting the NRCS standard Implementing a grazing plan meeting the NRCS standard  Stream bank fencing restricting animal access to a stream is not required for a true pasture  If overgrazed, then the field would be considered a barnyard (ACA) requiring addition protections including animal exclusion from the stream

10. Animal Concentration Area Management (ACAs)  ACAs must be included in the plan These are barnyards, exercise lots, other denuded animal concentration areas These are barnyards, exercise lots, other denuded animal concentration areas  ACA criteria include: Diverting upslope water Diverting upslope water Ensuring polluted runoff goes into storage or vegetative treatment strip or system Ensuring polluted runoff goes into storage or vegetative treatment strip or system Remove manure where it accumulates Remove manure where it accumulates Disallowing animal access to streams except properly constructed crossings Disallowing animal access to streams except properly constructed crossings Keeping watering areas, feed areas, etc away from streams when possible Keeping watering areas, feed areas, etc away from streams when possible

11. Manure Storage Requirements  As of 2000, all newly built liquid and semi-solid manure storages must be: Designed by a Pa registered Professional Engineer Designed by a Pa registered Professional Engineer Construction must be signed off by engineer and certification kept on site Construction must be signed off by engineer and certification kept on site  Manure storage facilities requiring a DEP permit: > 2.5 million gallons > 2.5 million gallons > 1.0 million gallons in a SP or impaired watershed > 1.0 million gallons in a SP or impaired watershed  Maintaining your manure storage: Check for leaks, overflow, trees, or other problems Check for leaks, overflow, trees, or other problems Must maintain required freeboard Must maintain required freeboard

12. In-Field Manure Stacking  In-field stacking of manure on unimproved areas is allowed if following the below restrictions  Criteria to address unimproved in-field stacking areas: 100’ setback from streams, water wells and sinkholes 100’ setback from streams, water wells and sinkholes Diverting upslope water where necessary Diverting upslope water where necessary Placing the stack on less than 8% slopes Placing the stack on less than 8% slopes Not same place as last year Not same place as last year Having a dry enough manure to allow it to be stacked Having a dry enough manure to allow it to be stacked Covering the stack if it will be there more than 120 days Covering the stack if it will be there more than 120 days  Stacking on improved areas (such as in the farmstead) does not need to follow these same restrictions, just no direct runoff to waters

13. 13 In conclusion…  All animal farms Manure Management Plan (pre-approved standardized format) Manure Management Plan (pre-approved standardized format) Can be written by farmer Can be written by farmer Addresses manure application as well as ACAs, pastures and barnyards Addresses manure application as well as ACAs, pastures and barnyards No submission, review or approval No submission, review or approval  Higher density animal farms (CAOs) Nutrient Management Plan, more detailed plan format Nutrient Management Plan, more detailed plan format Must be written by certified planner Must be written by certified planner Plan must be submitted, reviewed and approved by cons district Plan must be submitted, reviewed and approved by cons district  Larger animal farms (CAFOs) Nutrient Management Plan, like for CAOs (submission and approval) Nutrient Management Plan, like for CAOs (submission and approval) DEP CAFO Permit DEP CAFO Permit AOs CAOsCAOs CAFOs

14. 14 In Conclusion…  Begin now to develop your plan Determine if you need a manure mgmt plan or a nutrient management plan Determine if you need a manure mgmt plan or a nutrient management plan Are you a CAO or CAFOAre you a CAO or CAFO Get a copy of the MMM workbook and instructions Get a copy of the MMM workbook and instructions Take soil tests Take soil tests Get a farm map (from FSA, District, OneStop, etc) Get a farm map (from FSA, District, OneStop, etc) Determine average crop yields Determine average crop yields Identify nearby wells, streams, sinkholes Identify nearby wells, streams, sinkholes Calibrate your manure spreader (AF 68) Calibrate your manure spreader (AF 68)

15. 15 In Conclusion …(“begin now” continued) Determine if winter application is necessary Determine if winter application is necessary If so, look for fields (slope and setbacks)If so, look for fields (slope and setbacks) Check manure storage for problems Check manure storage for problems Leaking, trees or shrubs, cracks or tears.Leaking, trees or shrubs, cracks or tears. Check for ACA runoff to nearby streams, etc Check for ACA runoff to nearby streams, etc Look for good manure stacking areas if needed Look for good manure stacking areas if needed Check pasture for dense vegetation Check pasture for dense vegetation Keep manure application/storage records Keep manure application/storage records Get help with your planning if needed Get help with your planning if needed Cons. district, PSU ext, Ag orgs, private planners, etcCons. district, PSU ext, Ag orgs, private planners, etc Workshops may be planned for your area soonWorkshops may be planned for your area soon

16. Website to print copies of the new Manure Mgmt Manual http://panutrientmgmt.cas.psu.edu Button on left “Manure Management Manual Program” Button on left “Manure Management Manual Program” 16