Review of Nutrient Management Issues Addressed by EPA NODA for Proposed CAFO Regulations

Review of Nutrient Management Issues Addressed by EPA NODA for Proposed CAFO Regulations

Fundamental outcomes of a nutrient management plan:

Fundamental outcomes of a nutrient management plan: 1. Minimize concentration (accumulation) of nutrients within a CAFO

Fundamental outcomes of a nutrient management plan: 1. Minimize concentration (accumulation) of nutrients within a CAFO 2. Recycle manure nutrients: match crop nutrient needs with nutrient inputs

Fundamental outcomes of a nutrient management plan: 1. Minimize concentration (accumulation) of nutrients within a CAFO 2. Recycle manure nutrients: match crop nutrient needs with nutrient inputs 3. Minimize contaminant movement from land application site

EPA’s partial CNMP focuses on: 1. Minimize concentration (accumulation) of nutrients within a CAFO 2. Recycle manure nutrients: match crop nutrient needs with nutrient inputs Mandatory setbacks or buffers 3. Minimize contaminant movement from land application site

Issues of Agreement 1. Increased flexibility for states to set BMP’s. Recommendation: Utilize University recommendations or NRCS 590 specifications as foundation for state specific nutrient management practices (e.g. soil & manure testing, P Index)

Issues of Agreement 2. P-Banking is acceptable practice within certain limitations. Recommendation: Multi-year P applications are acceptable if : • Crop N requirements are not exceeded. • Crop P should match “state-based” land grant university of NRCS standards.

Issues of Concern 1. EPA’s CNMP is only a “partial CNMP”. Recommendation: - EPA should clearly identify mandatory and voluntary elements of CNMP. - EPA should credit plans targeting improved whole farm nutrient balance as “environmentally equivalent” to mandatory elements.

Issues of Concern 2. CNMP currently focuses strictly on crop nutrient management planning & setbacks as only solutions. Recommendation: All nutrient management tools should be recognized as providing environmental benefits by CAFO regs.

Nutrient Management Solutions: Efficient nutrient use in feeding program Efficient nutrient use in crops Manure treatment - nutrient disposal or export Nutrient export to off-farm users Conservation plan

Nutrient Management Solutions: Efficient nutrient use in feeding program Efficient nutrient use in crops Manure treatment - nutrient disposal or export Nutrient export to off-farm users Conservation plan Buffer Strips

Nutrient Management Solutions: Efficient nutrient use in feeding program Efficient nutrient use in crops Manure treatment - nutrient disposal or export Nutrient export to off-farm users Conservation plan Buffer Strips Will EPA recognize “Environmental Equivalent” nutrient management solutions?

Issues of Concern 3. Preference given to commercial fertilizer as opposed to manure nutrients: • P-Based Application Rates • 100’ foot setbacks • Increased liability imposed on off-farm users associated with manure use as opposed to fertilizer. Recommendation: The environmental benefits of manure applied at agronomic rate suggests that manure should not be restricted from situations where fertilizer is allowed.

Managed Outputs Farm Boundary Inputs Increased Fertilizer Use Fertilizer Crops Sold Manure Feeds Losses or Soil Storage

Issues of Concern 4. Compliance is documented by completion of plan and implementation of practices and record keeping, not improved performance. Recommendation: Environmental performance indicators should be optional procedure for documenting success of CNMP to EPA.

Alternative Performance Indicators Performance OutcomeIndicator 1. Limit concentration of - Whole Farm nutrients within CAFO’s Nutrient Balance 2. Recycle manure nutrients - Crop N Balance within cropping system - Fertilizer Purchases 3. Minimize movement of - Surface water… pollutants from land Soil P Index application site. - Ground water… Crop N Balance

Nutrient Outcomes & Performance Indicators Should Be Foundation for... Environmental Management System component addressing nutrient issues.

Environmental Benefits of Manure Applied at Agronomic Rates •  N leaching potential •  soil erosion & runoff •  soil carbon …. •  crop productivity • Replace energy intensive Nfertilizer & limited resource P fertilizer

Managed Outputs Farm Boundary Nutrient Issues Addressed by EPA’s CNMP Inputs Fertilizer Crops Sold Manure Feeds Losses or Soil Storage

Nitrogen Inputs to Livestock Systems 2% 3% 10% Legumes 15% 50% Fertilizer 50% 75% Nitrogen Inputs (% of Total) 30% Feeds 32% 20% Animals 3% 10% >2500 250-2500 <250 One Time Animal Capacity (animal units)

Phosphorus Whole Farm Balance 5 4 3 Phosphorus Balance (Ratio of In/Out) 2 1 0 10 100 1,000 10,000 100,000 Livestock Capacity (Animal Units)

Phosphorus Whole Farm Balance 5 4 3 Phosphorus Balance (Ratio of In/Out) 2 1 Low Risk 0 10 100 1,000 10,000 100,000 Livestock Capacity (Animal Units)

Phosphorus Whole Farm Balance 5 Increasing Risk 4 3 Phosphorus Balance (Ratio of In/Out) 2 1 Low Risk 0 10 100 1,000 10,000 100,000 Livestock Capacity (Animal Units)

Managed Outputs Farm Boundary Nutrient Flows on Livestock Farms Inputs Feed Animals Irrigation Fertilizer Legumes Animals Sold Manure Sold Crops Sold Manure Feeds Losses or Soil Storage

Phosphorus Inputs to Livestock Systems Fertilizer Feeds Phosphorus Inputs (% of Total) Animals >2500 250-2500 <250 One Time Animal Capacity (animal units)

Phosphorus Inputs to Livestock Systems Fertilizer 35% Feeds Phosphorus Inputs (% of Total) 62% Animals 3% >2500 250-2500 <250 One Time Animal Capacity (animal units)

Phosphorus Inputs to Livestock Systems Fertilizer 33% 35% Feeds Phosphorus Inputs (% of Total) 47% 62% Animals 20% 3% >2500 250-2500 <250 One Time Animal Capacity (animal units)

Phosphorus Inputs to Livestock Systems Fertilizer 1% 33% 35% 74% Feeds Phosphorus Inputs (% of Total) 47% 62% Animals 25% 20% 3% >2500 250-2500 <250 One Time Animal Capacity (animal units)

Review of Nutrient Management Issues Addressed by EPA NODA for Proposed CAFO Regulations