Any farm that houses animals in the state of Pennsylvania will have to have a written Manure Management Plan, meeting the guidelines provided in the PA Department of Environmental Protection’s Manure Management Manual. The plan simply needs to be kept on file at the farm and doesn’t need to be approved, unless the farm is a Concentrated Animal Operation or Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation.
Manure management requirements are under revision, and the current proposed draft requires determining manure application rates and setbacks by using one of the following three options:
Using “book values” from a Manure Application Rate Chart based on the crop and manure type, with setbacks of 100 feet from water bodies, and 100 feet of sinkholes or drinking water sources;
Calculations using the Nitrogen or Phosphorus Balance Worksheets, with setbacks of 150 feet from streams and other water bodies, and 100 feet from sinkholes or drinking water sources; or
A Manure Management Plan developed by a certified planner using the Phosphorus Index and setbacks of 100 feet (or vegetated 35-foot buffers) from streams or other water bodies or sinkholes, and 100 feet from drinking water sources.
The proposed regulation found in the Manure Management Manual would also require the winter application maximum rates of 5,000 gallons liquid or 20 tons solid manure, and restricted manure spreading to fields with at least 40% cover crop and slopes less than 15%. Farm managers will need to keep records of manure applications, inspections of facilities, repairs, and other practices. They will need to manage animal concentration areas (such as barnyards, feedlots, loafing areas) to prevent manure runoff to water bodies. In addition, pastures within 100 feet of waters (unless there is a 50-foot non-grazed permanent vegetative buffer) to minimize manure runoff, with stocking rates and other measures will need to be managed. Manure stockpiles or stacks will need to be managed so rainwater does not transport manure.
The draft Manure Management Manual and it regulations are available online at: http://www.elibrary.dep.state.pa.us/dsweb/Get/Document-80890/361-0300-002_8-4-2010.pdf. Public comments will be accepted until November 12. For more information, contact Don Fiesta, Department of Environmental Protection, 717-772-5644, dfiesta@state.pa.us
Source: Penn State University