Manure BMPs and Water Quality Protection

 Founded 1997  Non-profit organization: agricultural, urban projects  Promote stewardship, Best Management Practices (BMPs) to production agriculture  Parry Klassen, Executive Director  Jim Markle, Assistant Projects Manager  Tamara Taliaferro, Projects Coordinator

E coli Bacteria Most common exceedance E coli Bacteria Most common exceedance Sources  Birds  Squirrels  Other wild animals  Leaky sewer lines or septic systems  Dairy runoff  Irrigated pasture  Domestic animals (dogs, cats)  Manure applied to residential yards or farmland.

E coli Bacteria Is it from irrigated agriculture? E coli Bacteria Is it from irrigated agriculture? Not all, but …  Make sure our own house is in order - Proper manure storage - Proper manure application - Drainage management in irrigated pasture

Manure Profile  Non-composted or incompletely composted manure carries harmful pathogens. - Pathogens are bacteria that may potentially cause human illnesses. - Pathogens can survive for several years after application  Stacked and aged manure has less potential to harbor surviving pathogens. Manure and compost should be closely managed

Manure/Compost Best Management Practices (BMPs) Source: Almond Board of California, Good Agricultural Practices  Use only treated compost/manure that has undergone pathogen reduction by decomposing and stabilizing “The Almond Board of California does not support the use of manure as fertilizer, but if use, the manure must be applied properly.”

Composting Practices  Maintain compost temperature between 131ْ F-141ْF for at least 15 days in a windrow composting system.  Rotate windrows at least 5 times over this period. If you buy compost: - Ask for proof from compost producer that he has followed proper procedures to reduce pathogens.  Raw manures that have not been composted must sit for at least 6 months prior to application.

Storing Raw Manure  Develop physical barriers to act as a buffer to help prevent contamination from stacked piles.  Provide covers or other barriers to minimize the particle drift that may be caused by wind onto unintended products or crops.

Storing Raw Manure  Stacked manure should reach 131ْ - 140ْ for at least 3 days at a depth of 12-24” in order to kill harmful pathogens  Don’t add fresh manure to an already decomposing stack: this will only re-contaminate the stack

BMP Application Procedures  Apply manure when the soils are warm and not saturated  Incorporate manure into soil immediately after application to prevent wind drift and runoff in storm water  If incorporation isn’t possible use adequately composted materials to maximize pathogen elimination. Almonds: never apply non-treated compost 120 days prior to harvest

BMP Application Procedures  Document compost/manure applications - Date, rate and location  Do not … - sidedress with fresh or slurry manure - use biosolids or municipal waste. A pathogen reduction checklist to record this data included in handouts

Parry Klassen Executive Director "Education For Environmental Responsibility"