Module 1: Managing Manure for Environmental Protection

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Module 1 Managing Manure for Environmental
Protection

• By Mark Risse and Diana Rashash

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Module Goals

• Understand key environ-mental issues
• Recognize principles of good stewardship
• Understand why nutrient balance is an important
  issue and strategies to address it on-farm
• Review basic regulatory requirements

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EPAs Leading Sources of Water Quality Impairment
Source EPA National Water Quality Inventory
Report to Congress, 1993
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Sources of N and P to Watersheds in Central
U.S.(1995 GAO report to U.S. Congress)
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Manure Good or Bad

• Source of pathogens and oxygen-demanding
  substances that harm water or source of organic
  matter that improves soil quality
• Our largest source of water quality impairmentor
  a source of plant nutrients that can save energy
  and money
• Source of odor and emissions that harm neighbors
  or a means to reduce carbon dioxide emissions
  that cause global warming.
• Your management determines which it is!

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An Environmental Steward

• 1 Is aware of farms environmental risks.
• 2 Has NO point source discharges.

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An Environmental Steward (continued)

• 3 Implements a nutrient management plan.
• 4 Is a good neighbor.
• 5 Knows the rules.

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Manure Has Environmental Benefits
Manure
Commercial fertilizer

• Manure contains organic carbon.
• Organic carbon is key to soil health and
  structure.

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Environmental Benefits of Manure

• Increases soil carbon
• Reduces soil erosion and runoff
• Reduces nitrogen (N) leaching potential
• Increases crop productivity
• Replaces energy-intensive N fertilizer and
  limited resource phosphorus (P) fertilizer

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Review of Historical Soil Conservation Experiment
Data (Risse and Gilley 2000)

• Manure reduced total runoff by 1-68.
• Manure reduced soil erosion by 13-77.

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Water Quality IssuesAssociated with Animal
Production
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What are the Primary Water Quality Contaminants
in Manure?
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Pollution from Nutrients

• Nitrogen
• Limiting element for plant growth
• Highly soluble and mobile in environment
• Nitrates are health hazard
• Can be transferred through atmosphere

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Pollution from Nutrients (continued)

• Phosphorus
• Often limiting to aquatic plant growth
• Less mobile, erosion control important
• Tends to buildup in soil

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Pathogens

• Manure contains organisms that can cause
  infection or disease.
• Concern for drinking water
• Soil is an effective filter for most pathogens.
• Land application, long-term storage, and
  com-posting can reduce numbers.

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Pathogens (continued)

• Fecal coliform is indicator measured for water
  quality.
• Young stock generally has higher levels of
  pathogen loads.

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Point Source of Pollution?a single identifiable
source of pollution, such as a pipe, through
which wastewater is discharged into surface
waters.
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Nonpoint Source Pollution?takes place over a
broad area and results in the release of
pollutants from many different locations. Runoff
and soil erosion are often the driving force for
nonpoint source pollution.
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What are the Pathways by Which Manure
Contaminates Water?
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What are the Pathways by Which Manure
Contaminates Water?
Precipitation
Unsaturated Zone Water Table Sand Gravel
Aquifer Bedrock
1
Private Well
1. Surface runoff 3. 2. 4.
5.
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What are the Pathways by Which Manure
Contaminates Water?
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What are the Pathways by Which Manure
Contaminates Water?
1. Surface runoff 3. Well casings 2. Leaching
to groundwater 4. 5.

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What are the Pathways by Which Manure
Contaminates Water?
1. Surface runoff 3. Well casings 2. Leaching
to groundwater 4. Ammonia deposition
5.
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What are the Pathways by Which Manure
Contaminates Water?
1. Surface runoff 3. Well casings 2. Leaching
to groundwater 4. Ammonia deposition
5. Macropore flow
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Why the Focus on Nutrients?
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Water Quality Contaminantsin Manure
Possible Environmental Pollutants Risk
What are the top five components of manure that
may cause water quality problems?
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Water Quality Contaminantsin Manure (continued)
Possible Environmental Pollutants Risk

• 1. Nitrate-N Health
• 2. Ammonia-N Fish kills
• 3. Phosphorus Eutrophication
• 4. Pathogens Health
• 5. Organic matter Oxygen depletion

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Manure P vs. Cropland P Use
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Manure P vs. Cropland P Use
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Manure P vs. Cropland P Use
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What is Whole Farm Nutrient Balance?
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Nutrient Flows onLivestock Operations
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Nutrient Inputs
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Managed Nutrient Outputs
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Recycling Of Nutrients
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Losses and Soil Storage
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Are Inputs and Outputs in Balance?
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Are Inputs and Outputs in Balance?
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Are Inputs and Outputs in Balance?
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Are Inputs and Outputs in Balance?
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What are Typical Nutrient Balances?

• Ideally, should be near 11 whatever comes in
  should leave as managed outputs.
• Most livestock operations have muchhigher
  ratios, at times up to 81.
• Farm size is not a good indicator of nutrient
  balance.

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Are Nutrients "Out Of Balance"on My Animal
Feeding Operation?
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Indicators of Nutrient Imbalance
Yes No Indicator

• ___ ___ Soil P increasing with time?
• ___ ___ Majority of feed protein and P comes
  from off-farm sources?
• ___ ___ Feed rations exceed NRC or university
  recommendations?
• ___ ___ No nutrient management plan for manure?

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What are Appropriate Strategiesfor Managing
Nutrient Imbalances?
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Plug the Leaks Approach
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Plug the Leaks Approach
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Plugging the Leaks . . .Temporary Solution to
Imbalance
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Sustainable Strategy No.1Credit Manure
Nutrients in Crops

• Efficient use of manure nutrients means not
  purchasing fertilizer unless it is needed.
• Nutrient management plans (NMPs) should help
  ensure this strategyis met.
• Dont purchase inputs you dont need.

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Sustainable Strategy No. 2Reducing Feed Inputs

• Reducing nutrients fed improves nutrient balance.
• Try to avoid feeding more N and P than
  recommended.
• Much current research on improved feeding
  strategies
• Consult with animal scientist.

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Sustainable Strategy No. 3Move Manure Nutrients
Off Farm

• Moving manure off the farm as a product improves
  nutrient balance.
• May require changes in treatment and marketing

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Sustainable Strategy No. 3Move Manure Nutrients
Off Farm (Continued)

• Potential markets
• Compost for organic producers and homeowners
• Erosion control
• Energy production
• Value-added fertilizer

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Sustainable Strategy No. 4Manure Treatment

• Changes in treatment methods can improve nutrient
  balance but con-vert high impact losses to
  lower impact losses.
• Treatment lagoons, com-posting, constructed
  wet-lands, and other methods can reduce N
  available for land application.

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Sustainable Strategy No. 4Manure Treatment
(continued)

• Solids separation can reduce P in liquid waste
  streams.

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Managing Nutrients with NMPs
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What is an NMP?

• NRCS has guidance on comprehensive nutrient
  management plans (CNMP).
• EPA requires NMPs on large farms.
• These are similar plans but have slightly
  different goals.
• Your state regulations should distinguish your
  requirements.

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What is an NMP? (continued)

• Environmental Operating Plan for AFO
• Nutrient plan for Whole Farm
• Environmental record-keeping system
• EPA requires 5 components
• Manure handling andstorage
• Land application
• Site management
• Record keeping
• Other utilization

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Air Quality Issues
Associated withAnimal Production
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Air Emissions from Livestock and Poultry
Production

• Volatile compounds (160 gases)
• Airborne micro-organisms
• Dust (carrier of odors and micro-organisms)

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Impacts of Odors

• Multiple gases contribute to odor.
• Volatile fatty acids
• Nitrogen-containing compounds (ammonia, amines, N
  heterocycles)
• Phenols and cresols
• Sulfur-containing compounds

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Impacts of Odors (continued)

• Community nuisance
• Psychological impact on neighbors (anger,
  depression, etc.)
• Physiological impact on neighbors (respiratory
  problems, nausea, etc.)

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Air EmissionsHydrogen Sulfide

• Toxic at high levels (workplace limits set at 10
  ppm)
• Possible chronic health impact from low,
  long-term exposure (Some states limit property
  line levels to 0.05 to 0.1 ppm.)

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Air EmissionsMethane and Carbon Dioxide

• End products of anaerobic and aerobic
  decomposition of manure
• Contributors to greenhouse gas effect
• Net increase in greenhouse gas is probably
  negligible manure is part of the carbon cycle.

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Air EmissionsAmmonia

• Large quantities of ammonia are released in many
  livestock systems.
• Ammonia is re-deposited.
• In U.S., largest negative impact is
  eutrophication of coastal waters.

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Federal Regulations

• EPA regulates concentrated animal feeding
  operations (CAFOs) as part of the Clean Water
  Act of 1972 under the National Pollutant
  Discharge Elimination System (NPDES).

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Federal Regulations (continued)

• The EPA requires states to meet their rules or
  lose the ability to permit anything under NPDES.
• States may be more stringent.

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Definitions

• Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) are
  agricultural enterprises where animals are kept
  and raised in confined situations without
  vegetation more than 45 days.

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Definitions (continued)

• AFOs congregate animals, feed, manure and urine,
  dead animals, and production operations on a
  small land area. Feed is brought to the animals.
• The Federal approach is designed to target large
  CAFOs.

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EPA Requirements for CAFOs

• Apply for NPDES permit
• No discharge to waters ofthe United States
  except in extreme events
• Must develop and implement nutrient management
  plansto address N and P

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EPA Requirements for CAFOs (continued)

• Soil and manure testing
• Buffers/setbacks to water
• Record keeping and annual report

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Minimum Standards to Protect Water Quality in
NPDES Permitsfor CAFOs

• 1. Buffers or equivalent practices
• 2. Divert clean water
• 3. Prevent direct contact of animals with the
  waters of the United States
• 4. Animal mortality
• 5. Chemical disposal

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Minimum Standards to Protect Water Quality in
NPDES Permitsfor CAFOs (continued)

• 6. Proper operation and maintenance
• 7. Record keeping and testing
• 8. Maintain proper storage capacity
• 9. Rates and timing of land application of manure
  and waste water
• www.epa.gov/ost/guide/cafo/rule.html

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Record Keeping Required

• EPA requires annual reports
• Number of animals
• Manure generated
• Manure transported
• Number of acres land applied
• Acres in NMP
• Any discharges

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Agencies That Regulate Environmental Issues for
Animal Production

• Federal
• U.S. EPA
• (regional office contact information)
• State
• (Agency Name)
• (contact information)

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Agencies That Regulate Environmental Issues for
Animal Production (continued)

• County
• (Agency Name)
• (contact information)

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Permit Requirements for Livestock and Poultry
Producers

• Federal Yes, NPDES permit is required of all open
  lot systems only.
• Proposed change to include all livestock and
  poultry systems.
• State (Fill in information specific to your
  state.)
• County (Fill in information specific to your
  county.)

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Take Home Message
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Take Home Message

• The EPA lists agriculture as the leading
  impairment to rivers and streams.
• Risk of manure components to water and air is
  real.
• Manure can be a benefit or liability depending on
  how it is managed.

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Take Home Message (continued)

• Seven principles of environmental stewardship
  should guide livestock and poultry producers.
• Point vs. nonpoint source pollution, runoff, and
  erosion are nonpoint sources.
• Nutrients, pathogens, and organic matter in
  manure can impact water quality.

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Take Home Message (continued)

• Pathogens are disease-causing organisms.
• Excess nutrients can cause fish kills, health
  problems, or algal blooms.
• An NMP helps you manage nutrients.
• Increases in soil P indicate excess nutrients.

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Take Home Message (continued)

• Many AFOs exhibit nutrient imbalance.
• Strategies for improving nutrient balance
  include more efficient use of manure nutrients,
  improved feeding programs, marketing manure off
  the farm, and changing the treatment method.
• All operations are subject to the Clean Water Act
  and cannot discharge manure.

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Take Home Message (continued)

• EPA requires large CAFOs to get NPDES and comply
  with certain Federal standards.

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Thank you
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Sources of N and P To Watersheds in Northeast
U.S.(1995 GAO report to U.S. Congress)
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Sources of N and P To Watersheds in Western
U.S.(1995 GAO report to U.S. Congress)
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Sources of N and P To Watersheds in Southern
U.S.(1995 GAO report to U.S. Congress)