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Environmental Issues That Affect Confinement Beef Production

Environmental Issues That Affect Confinement Beef Production. Environmental Impact. CAFO (Confined Animal Feeding Operations) http://www.epa.gov/region07/water/cafo/index.htm. CAFO (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations) http: //www.epa.gov/region07/water/cafo/index.htm

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Environmental Issues That Affect Confinement Beef Production

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  1. Environmental IssuesThat Affect Confinement Beef Production Environmental Impact CAFO(Confined Animal Feeding Operations) http://www.epa.gov/region07/water/cafo/index.htm CAFO(Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations) http: //www.epa.gov/region07/water/cafo/index.htm CAFO Information Adapted from Dr. Rick Koelsch, UNL DGriffin@GPVEC.UNL.EDU http://gpvec.unl.edu

  2. Environmental Impact Cattle aren’t people, but … http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=4963 ($32)

  3. Cattle & their Environment • Thermoneutral zone (TNZ) … Lower critical temperature (LCT) is the temperature below which an animal must burn extra energy to keep warm.

  4. Cattle & their Environment Lower critical temperature (LCT) is the temperature below which an animal must burn extra energy to keep warm. Note: Influenced by hair coat length, dryness & fat cover Upper critical temperature (UCT) is the temperature above which an animal diverts metabolism & activities to cool. Note: Influenced by hair coat length, relative humidity, radiant heat, air movement (wind speed), dryness & fat cover

  5. Cattle & their Environment • HEAT Stress … yeah, it’s a big deal 85 THI 100 Heat Index (HI) Wind speeds above a 5 to 10 MPH initiation speed effectively decrease THI one unit/mph

  6. Cattle & their Environment • HEAT … management … KEYs: AIR FLOW & WATER • Wind speeds above a 5 to 10 MPH initiation speed effectively decrease THI one unit/mph • Air flow obstruction common … wind breaks, barns • Wind rise is ~10:1 … Wind fall is ~ 2½:1 • Mounds can provide improved air flow + winter storm protection • Tall SHADES work !!! … maintenance can be tough • Stable flies (Stomoxys calcitrans) can prevent using • Need to control weeds (fly habitat and air flow obstruction)

  7. Cattle & their Environment • HEAT … management … KEYs: AIR FLOW & WATER • Water Intake when ambient temp >82F ~ 1.8% BW • Supply in 2 hrs … When under demand pressure • Reserve capacity & linear space may be critical • 1 gal/head & 2” linear/head … inadequate • Water flow at 40 PSI in ½” water line is ~ 8 GPM • Double the line size increases water flow 4 X • Water pressure decreases 25% / 90⁰ turn • Water pressure decreases due to friction • Type of pipe (roughness) & diameter (frict.↑ as dia.↓) • http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/hazen-williams-water-d_797.html • http://ohioline.osu.edu/b912/step_8.html

  8. Cattle & their Environment • MUD … yeah, it’s a big deal • 1000 lb cattle via their urine & feces put into their environment enough water equal to 3 inches of rain per 100 sq.ft each month … evap. rate? • Dew claw (15 cm) mud … FE - 8 to 14% (24 cm mud decrease FE - 15 to 25%) Predicting Feed Intake of Food-Producing Animals (1987) pg 60-66 ... Table 6.5

  9. Cattle & their Environment • MUD … management • Decrease Stocking Density … to match precipitation and evaporation … • Fails if pen surface is not kept hard and clean • Keeping hard … PACK > 100 lb density composite soil • 4.5”x1/2” core … 18 grams ~ 100lbs/ft3 • Clay ~ 54lb/ft3 ... Sand ~ 100lb/ft3 • … Alternate surface materials ??? • use seasoned manure or “pond ash”? • Clean regularly (monthly) … pile in back of pen

  10. Cattle & their Environment

  11. Cattle & their Environment

  12. Cattle & their Environment • DUST … yeah, it’s a big deal • 1000 lb cattle via their urine & feces put into their environment enough water equal to 3 inches of rain per 100 sq.ft each month … use to control dust? • Respirable dust < 4 microns • Dust is mainly a DUSK event • Causes angry neighbors Dr. John Sweeten, TAMU Res. & Extension Center, Amarillo, TX

  13. Home WorkFinding Weather Information NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) http://www.weather.gov/climate/ http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/ncdc.html http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/mpp/freedata.html http://cdo.ncdc.noaa.gov/dly/DLY http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/stationlocator.html http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/soilmst/e.shtml http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/monitoring_and_data/us_prec.shtml http://www.weather.gov/climate.php http://www.weather.gov/climate.php

  14. EPA – CAFO(CAFO Information Adapted from Dr. Rick Koelsch, UNL)( RKOELSCH1@UNL.EDU … 402 472 2966) What’s the deal?

  15. Farmer Feeder Flush System

  16. EPA CAFO Rule Established minimum standards for all states Targeted large livestock and poultry operations Places emphasis on Nutrient Management Planning Environmental Regulations Impacting Animal Production(Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation Rule) http://www.epa.gov/region07/water/cafo/index.htm

  17. AFO(Animal Feeding Operation) CAFO(Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation) NPDES(National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) … EPA permit program Definition of Terms

  18. Which Animal Feeding Operations will need an NPDES permit? • Operations defined or designated as a CAFO (concentrated animal feeding operation) • Primary focus is on: • Larger livestock and poultry facilities • Those confined in barns or open lots* • *Typically excludes grazing and pasture based operations

  19. Step 1. Is the operation an AFO? Does operation house or feed animals in a confined area for more than 45 days in any 12-month period? NO Not an AFO. (No NPDES Permit Required) YES Does the majority of the animal confinement area sustain crops, pasture, or residue through the entire year? YES No…My Operation is an AFO Step 2.

  20. Avoiding the “AFO” Designation • Don’t confine animals • Keep gates open on confinement areas • Maintain free access to range/pasture • Confine less than 45 days in a year • Maintain vegetation • Keep animal density low • Move confinement areas frequently

  21. Regulatory Definitions of Large CAFOs, Medium CAFO, and Small CAFOs • A Large CAFO confines at least the number of animals described in the table below. A Medium CAFO falls within the size range in the table below and either: • • has a manmade ditch or pipe that carries manure or wastewater to surface water; or • • the animals come into contact with surface water that passes through the area where they’re confined. • If an operation is found to be a significant contributor of pollutants, the permitting authority may designate a medium-sized facility as a CAFO. • A Small CAFO confines fewer than the number of animals listed in the table and has been designated as a CAFO by the permitting authority as a significant contributor of pollutants.

  22. Regulatory Definitions of Large CAFOs, Medium CAFO, and Small CAFOs

  23. Step 2. Is the operation a Large CAFO? Refer to the CAFO Size Table for the cattle operation. Does the LARGE CAFO Classification apply? Applies to the maximum one-time capacity for the cattle operation.

  24. NPDES Permit Required* YES NO Step 3. Step 2. Is the operation a Large CAFO? Complete the CAFO Size Determination Table for the operation. Does the LARGE CAFO Classification apply? * Some Large CAFOs may demonstrate no potential to discharge and not need a NPDES permit.

  25. Regulatory Definitions of Large CAFOs, Medium CAFO, and Small CAFOs

  26. Step 3. Is the operation a Medium CAFO? 1) Are animals in contact with waters of the US running through the confinement area? OR 2) Is a man-made ditch or pipe carrying manure or wastewater from animal housing or feeding area to waters of the US? OR 3) Has permitting authority designated operation as a CAFO? Complete the CAFO Size Determination Table for the operation. Does the MEDIUM CAFO Classification apply? YES NO NO to 1, 2 & 3 YES to any NPDES permit required. * No Duty to Apply * Some Medium CAFOs may demonstrate no potential to discharge and not need a NPDES permit.

  27. Avoiding an CAFO Designation for Medium & Small AFO’s • Avoid connection between areas of confinement and surface waters • Locate areas of confinement away from surface waters (and ditches/grassed waterways connected to surface waters). • Establish a grassed buffer between confinement and surface waters (and ditches/grassed waterways connected to surface waters).

  28. Major Rule Elements • Production Area Requirements • Runoff control for storms less than 25-year, 24-hour storm (beef & dairy) • Storage requirements • Mortality management plan • Nutrient Management Plan Required

  29. Feedlot Review __ Does operation have potential to discharge? __ Is Runoff Collected? __ Is Clean Water Diverted? __ Do Animals Have Contact with Surface Water? Confinement Barns Review __ Do I meet NDEQ standards for manure storage? __ Control of runoff from silage storage? __ Do I have a reasonable plan for mortality?

  30. Storage Evaluation __ Does the storage have adequate capacity? __ Is there a level indicator? __ Is “Must Pump” & “Pre-winter Must Pump” levels clearly identified? Do I have critical Storage Records? __ Pond level __ Precipitation __ Pump down timing & amounts

  31. Land Application Review Site Specific Manure Application Plans? __ Site Specific Plan? __ Records? __ Sufficient buffers or setbacks? __ Application rates __ Soil conservation measures __ Setbacks from surface water Required Nutrient Management Plan Records? __ Land application (where, when, amount, & weather conditions) __ Crop yield records __ Manure & soils analysis reports __ Application equipment inspection & calibration records

  32. For More Information CIGR (International Commission on Ag Engineering) http://www.cigr.org/Handbook-InternationalComissionofAgriculturalEngineering.htm Producers Guide to CAFO: http://www.epa.gov/npdes/pubs/cafo_prod_guide_entire_doc.pdf National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) State / Regional Links http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/stateinfo.cfm http://www.cigr.org/Handbook-InternationalComissionofAgriculturalEngineering.htm http://www.epa.gov/npdes/pubs/cafo_prod_guide_entire_doc.pdf http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/stateinfo.cfm HOME WORK Vegetative Strip System for Livestock Wastes http://www.extension.org/pages/Introduction_to_Vegetative_Treatment_Systems

  33. Medical Wastes … Sharps Disposal • 40 CFR Parts 22 and 259Land contamination, from improper disposal of livestock medical waste, can result in expensive cleanup operations and EPA fines. In addition, the EPA has the authority to block the sale or transfer of ownership of land with environmental contamination. Two legal options are available for livestock medical sharps disposal: • Incase livestock medical sharps in a rigid mass such as “Portland Cement” or “Sharp-Seal” a. Seal in a properly labeled rigid container and send to an approved landfill. • Heat until melted and then bury in an identified location on the operation. » Medical sharps (disposable hypodermic needles & scalpel blades) should never be discarded loosely into the trash. » Do not discard sharps in containers that are easily punctured or containers that are not labeled with a “BIOHAZARD” warning.

  34. Sharps DisposalContainerLabel http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/nonhaz/industrial/medical/tracking.htm http://www.epa.gov/osw/nonhaz/industrial/medical/disposal.htm HOME WORK 1) Check out the EPA links above 2) Can you find a legal sharps disposal location or service for you & your producers in your practice area … What is the estimated cost?

  35. Save a Cow … Eat a Vegetarian Good Luck To You DGriffin@GPVEC.UNL.EDU http://gpvec.unl.edu

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