ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS for equine and Small Farm Operations

1. ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONSfor equine and Small Farm Operations Erosion & Sedimentation Nutrient Management

2. PA produces 26,000,000 tons of manure a year (excluding equine) A dairy cow produces 2,500 gallons of milk and 6,000 gallons of manure a year A pig gains 250 lbs in 5 months and produces 2,000 lbs of manure A horse produces 16,000 lbs of manure a year. Only 25% of PA horse farms use their manure

3. Manure is a Resource!!!!!!!!!!!! • What is Manure? Great Stuff!!!! • Organic matter and soil microbes • Water and nutrient holding capacity • Micro nutrients (Calcium, Magnesium, Sulfur, Zinc, and more) • Macro nutrients (N – P – K) • Value based on N-P-K value alone is approximately: • $287/cow/year • $785/1000 broilers/year • $34/hog/year

4. Soil Erosion • Nutrients • WHY? What’s at stake?

5. What is Erosion & Sedimentation? • RAIN – a bomb raid for bare soil! • DETACHMENT • Impacts of raindrops on bare soil breaks apart soil aggregates

9. Sediment in Streams • Biggest water pollutant in PA by volume • What does it do? • Reduces flow capacity of ditches, canals, culverts, other water conveyances • Increases flooding potential • Accelerates stream bank erosion • Increases turbidity (think murky, muddy water) • Degrades water quality

10. SEDIMENT NEVER TRAVELS ALONE….

11. Nutrients • In the process of producing, storing, transporting and land applying manure, pathogens and nutrients (nitrogen & phosphorus) can be transported to surface and ground waters. • All affect water quality

12. Phosphorus • Phosphorus is lost and enters waterways through • EROSION • Phosphorus is often the limiting growth element for aquatic plants • Aquatic plants and algae bloom under high phosphorus conditions • As aquatic vegetation dies, oxygen is depleted • Use of water for drinking, fishing, and recreation is limited

13. Phosphorus Pollution

14. Chesapeake Bay Watershed

16. What is being done? Agencies are implementing stronger regulationsand accountability programs to control agricultural runoff. In the past, the emphasis was on larger operations, new emphasis will be on smaller operations, especially equine (large number of high density horse operations in all states)

17. WHO is Regulated? • All Animal Operations (AOs) • All operations generating/utilizing manure • Regulated by PA DEP (PA Clean Streams Law) AOs (40,000+) • Concentrated Animal Operations (CAOs) • Animal Density greater than 2 AEUs/ Acre • 1 AEU = 1000 lbs • 8 or more AEU’s • Regulated by PA State Conservation Commission (Act 38) CAOs (1,050+) CAFOs (340+) • Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) • Based on animal numbers and/or animal density • Farms > 1,000 AEUs, CAOs > 300 AEUs • Regulated by PA DEP (for US EPA)

18. Necessary Calculations Animal Equivalent Units (AEU) = Average # of Animals x Average Animal Weight (lbs) ÷ 1000* x Number of Days on Operation ÷ 365 Animal Density = AEU÷ Number of Acres Suitable for Manure Concentrated Animal Operation (CAO) : More than 2 AEU/ AcreANDMore than 8 AEUs * 1 AU = 1000 lbs

19. Animal Inventory: 8 Draft Horses 4 Ponies 6 Mules 15 Finishing Hogs (grow – finish) on farm for 100 days Land Inventory: Farmstead: 2 Acres Woodland: 5 Acres Pasture: 10 Acres Rented Cropland: 12 Acres

22. What are the regulations? AO - produce manure Manure Management Plan State Manure Management Plan and Conservation/Erosion and Sediment Control Plan AO - with an animal concentration area Concentrated Animal Operation (CAO) - over 8 AEUs and 2000 lbs animal per acre Nutrient Management Plan Conservation Plan (Erosion) Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) - animals confined to houses and/or feedlots and exceeds PA DEP animal group thresholds Nutrient Management Plan Federal Conservation Plan (Erosion) CAFO permit

24. DEP Manure Management Regulations • All farms generating/using manure MUST have a Manure Management Plan • Must use the workbook provided (http://panutrientmgmt.cas.psu.edu/manure_management_program.htm) • Must be a written plan and include farm maps • Can be written by farmer or other non-certified individual • No submission and no approval required • Kept on site • May be required to produce the plan upon request • Must keep records

25. Pasture Management • Stream bank fencing restricting access to a stream is not required for a true pasture • Pastures need to be properly managed by either: • Maintaining dense vegetation with at least 3” growth during growing season (or) • Implementing a grazing plan meeting the NRCS standard • Overgrazed pastures not meeting the above requirements • Must be considered a barnyard or Animal Concentration Area (ACA)

26. Pasture Management Unacceptable Acceptable

27. Animal Concentration Area Management (ACA) Barnyards Exercise Lots Bare Animal Concentration Areas

28. ACA Management • Divert upslope water • Direct polluted runoff into storage or vegetative treatment strip or system • Remove manure • No animal access to streams from an ACA except using properly constructed crossings • Keep water/feed areas away from streams

29. Manure Storage Requirements • As of 2000, all newly built liquid and semi-solid manure storages must be: Designed by a Pa registered Professional Engineer • Larger manure storage facilities require a DEP permit • Must be maintained

30. In-Field Manure Stacking • Stacking on improved areas (such as in the farmstead) does not need to follow these same restrictions, just no direct runoff to waters • Unimproved in-field stacking areas: • 100’ from streams, water wells and sinkholes • Divert upslope water • Place the stack on less than 8% slopes • Not same place as last year • Manure must be dry to allow it to be stacked • Cover the stack if it will be there more than 120 days

31. Mechanical Manure Application Setbacks • 100’ may be reduced for streams, lakes, ponds • 35’ with a permanent vegetative buffer • 50’ with current soil tests (3 years) less than 200 ppm P and use no-till and cover crops • Pastures meeting the pasture management requirements • 35’ mechanical manure application setback • 100’ manure application setbacks for • Streams, lakes, ponds, and existing open sinkholes • Private or public drinking water source

32. Winter Spreading Restrictions • Defines “Winter” • Between the dates of December 15 to February 28 (or) • The ground is frozen 4 inches or more (or) • The ground is snow covered • Provides maximum application rate for the winter months • 5,000 gallons per acre of liquid manure • 20 tons per acre dry non-poultry manure • 3 tons per acre dry poultry manure • Requires 25% plant or residue cover at application time • No winter application on slopes steeper than 15%

33. Manure Application Rates • Three options for developing manure rates: • 1) Use manure application charts in workbook • Easiest but very general – not farm specific • Based on crop groups and yield, type of manure, and application method • Can use N based charts if current soil test is < 200 ppm P • Must use P based charts if current soil test is >200 ppm P or no soil test is available • Based on the phosphorus that the plants are able to remove • Approximately 1/3 N rate

34. Manure Application Rates

35. Manure Application Rates • Three options for developing manure rates: • 2) Use Nutrient Balance Sheet Worksheet • Harder but site specific • Use N based option if current soil test is < 200 ppm P • Use P based option if current soil test is >200 ppm P or no soil test is available • Approximately 1/3 N rate http://panutrientmgmt.cas.psu.edu/main_planning_tools.htm

36. Manure Application Rates • Three options for developing manure rates: • 3.) Use the PA Phosphorus-Index • Most complex • Most flexible • Will need to use an authorized planner • N or P based on the results of the P Index http://pubs.cas.psu.edu/freepubs/pdfs/uc180.pdf

37. Help? Agencies that can help you…….. Conservation District Penn State Extension Natural Resource Conservation Service Department of Environmental Protection

38. Regulations Summary… • All animal farms • Manure Management Plan (pre-approved standardized format) • Written by farmer • Manure application, ACAs, pastures and barnyards • No submission, review or approval • Higher density animal farms (CAOs) • Nutrient Management Plan, more detailed • Written by certified planner • Submitted, reviewed and approved by Conservation District • Larger animal farms (CAFOs) • Nutrient Management Plan – reviewed and approved • DEP CAFO Permit

39. v.04.2012 Donna L. Foulk dlf5@psu.edu Extension Educator – Equine Natural Resources Sarah M. Rihl smr5162@psu.edu Equine Program Assistant Penn State Cooperative Extension, Northampton County, 610-746-1970 The Pennsylvania State University is committed to the policy that all persons shall have equal access to programs, facilities, admission, and employment without regard to personal characteristics not related to ability, performance, or qualifications as determined by University policy or by state or federal authorities. It is the policy of the University to maintain an academic and work environment free of discrimination, including harassment. The Pennsylvania State University prohibits discrimination and harassment against any person because of age, ancestry, color, disability or handicap, national origin, race, religious creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or veteran status. Discrimination or harassment against faculty, staff, or students will not be tolerated at The Pennsylvania State University. Direct all inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policy to the Affirmative Action Director, The Pennsylvania State University, 328 Boucke Building, University Park, PA 16802-5901; Tel 814-865-4700/V, 814-863-1150/TTY This publication is available in alternative media on request.