1. Manure Management Plan Writing
For the Equine Owner

2. Why Regulations? What’s at Stake? Who’s Effected?
Road map slide for first half of the presentation.

3. WHY? What’s the Concern?
Sediments
Nutrients

4. Water Quality KEEP CLEAN WATER CLEAN!! Sediment Nutrients Nitrogen
Phosphorus
Biggest threat to surface water quality
It is important to remember when handling and managing manure that, “we all live down stream”. Nutrients from manure adhere themselves to soil particles, and therefore soil and nutrient generally never travel alone. The two nutrients in manure that pose the most environmental concern are Nitrogen and Phosphorus. Nitrogen is very dynamic, and can be loss via weather, management, and temperature. Phosphorus on the other hand, is not as dynamic, and is generally loss via soil erosion. Phosphorus in water systems leads to algae blooms and increased aquatic plant growth. When self assessing your property, pay close attention to bare areas and /or areas high in Phosphorus. If these areas are near surface water, then actions should be taken immediately to lower Phosphorus levels, and minimize bare ground.

5. What is Erosion & Sedimentation?
RAIN -
A bomb raid for
bare soil!
DETACHMENT -
Rain drops on bare soil break apart soil aggregates
Erosion is the physical wearing away of the soil surface. Rain on bare soil is a major contributor to soil loss. When rain drops strike the soil, soil aggregates break apart resulting in soil erosion.

6. Detached soil particles are suspended and move with flowing water
TRANSPORTATION -
Detached soil particles are suspended and move with flowing water
Picture: Example of sediment transport caused by rain having a direct connect with bare soil.

7. Suspended soil particles are deposited – where?
Eroded sediments often are deposited in nearby streams, polluting and degrading water quality.
DEPOSITION –
Suspended soil particles are
deposited – where?

8. Sediment in Streams Biggest water pollutant in PA by volume
Increases turbidity (murky, muddy water)
Degrades water quality
Increases water temperature/decreases oxygen levels
Clogs fish gills
Suffocates bottom dwelling organisms
Prevents sunlight from reaching aquatic plants
Disrupts aquatic ecosystems
In addition to degrading streams pristine appearance, what’s the concern with excess sediments in water?
Sediments in surface water increase water temperature
Warm water holds less oxygen for fish and other aquatic life forms
Sediments reduce sunlight penetration in water that is necessary for aquatic plant growth
Sediments suffocate bottom dwelling aquatic organisms – disrupting the water ecosystems

9. SEDIMENT NEVER TRAVELS ALONE…
Use this slide to introduce nutrients as pollutants. Ask what else moves with sediments (pollutants such as oil, herbicides, nutrients, etc.)
SEDIMENT NEVER TRAVELS ALONE…

10. Manure … What is it? Organic matter and soil microbes
Manure is a valuable resource
Organic matter and soil microbes
Micro (zinc, calcium, magnesium) nutrients
Macro (N- P -K) nutrients
Substitute for commercial fertilizers
Provides plants essential nutrients
Slow release of nutrients
Increases infiltration of water, and water holding capacity
To the general public, manure is often depicted as a smelly waste product that animal owners need to remove from their property. But in reality, manure is a valuable resource. Manure consists of fiber, nutrients, vitamins, and minerals from the pasture grasses, hay, and feed that was not utilized by the animal. In addition to the macronutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium), manure may contain valuable trace minerals and elements such as iron and zinc. Manure is a great source of organic matter, which improves soil quality and enhances soil water holding ability. Unlike commercial fertilizers, manure provides a slow release of nutrients to the plant, making the nutrients continuously available to meet the plant’s needs. With the increasing cost of commercial fertilizers, composted manure becomes a valuable resource to cropland, pastures and gardens.

11. The Scoop on Poop … In one year:
PA produces 26,000,000 tons of manure (excluding equine)
A horse produces 20,000 lbs of manure
A dairy cow produces 2,500 gallons of
milk and 6,000 gallons of manure
A pig gains 250 lbs in 5 months and
produces 2,000 lbs of manure
Less than 25% of PA equine farms
use their manure.
What is your definition of manure? (This question is designed to help people think about what manure is actually composed of). Manure is not all bad!

12. Nutrients
In the process of producing, storing, transporting and land applying manure, pathogens and nutrients (Nitrogen & Phosphorus) can leach or be transported to surface and ground waters
All affect water quality

13. Nutrients: Nitrogen
Can be carried into surface waters with eroded sediments
Can leach into ground water
Presents a human health and livestock risk when present in drinking water
Very dynamic and mobile
Because Nitrogen is very dynamic and mobile, controlling loss through management is a challenge.

14. Climate, temperature, handling and incorporation all affect nitrogen loss.
Managing nitrogen is very difficult to control in preventing loss, since it is affected by many outside sources that an operator has little control over. Phosphorus, however, is easily controlled by a farm’s management.

15. Nutrients: Phosphorus
Excess nutrients (especially phosphorous) cause aquatic plants and algae to bloom
As aquatic vegetation dies, oxygen is depleted and aquatic animals die
Enters surface waters primarily
through EROSION
Eutrophication is caused by an increase in nutrients in bodies of water causing a drastic increase in aquatic plant growth (especially algae). As algae populations increase and subsequently die and decay, oxygen levels are depleted causing dead zones. Very small amounts of P are needed to cause eutrophication.

16. Chesapeake Bay Watershed
One of the best known situations resulting from excess nutrient and soil loss is the water quality impairment occurring in the Chesapeake Bay. Degradation of water quality within the Bay has led to increased state and federal nutrient management regulations.

17. You might believe that your farm is not large enough to have a negative impact, but it only requires a small amount of P to degrade water quality. Understanding basic BMPs that can be implemented on your farm will help to create a positive impact for the Bay and other local watersheds.
What is being done by the state to help with the Bay and help farmers better manage their manure and nutrients? Recent regulations are focused more on small farms. Depending on the number and density of animals on a farm, will depict how an operation is regulated.

18. WHO is Regulated? All Animal Operations (AOs) AOs (40,000+)
All operations generating/utilizing manure
Regulated by PA DEP (PA Clean Streams Law)
AOs (40,000+)
Concentrated Animal Operations (CAOs)
Animal Density greater than 2 AEUs/Acre
1 AU = 1000 lbs
8 or more AEUs
Regulated by PA State Conservation Commission (Act 38)
CAOs (1,050+)
CAFOs (365+)
What is your farm ... CAFO, CAO, or AO?
An Animal Equivalent Unit (AEU) = one thousand pounds of live animal weight of any animal on the operation adjusted for the number of days that the animal is on the farm.
Animal Equivalent Units per Acre = takes into account the number of animals on the farm, animal weight, number of days the animals are on the farm, and the number of acres suitable for manure application.
Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs)
Based on animal numbers and/or animal density
Farms >1,000 AEUs, CAOs >300 AEUs
Regulated by PA DEP (for US EPA)

19. Certified nutrient management planner
DEP Manure Management Plan
Act 38 Nutrient Management Plan
Written By
Farmer
Certified nutrient management planner
Cost
May be of no cost to farmer
$ varies by operation
Who Needs One
Farms with livestock and/or that apply manure
Concentrated Animal Operations; Volunteer Farms
Regulates
Animal Concentration Areas
Manure Storage
Pasture
Mechanical Manure Application
Agency
Regulated by DEP/ Conservation Districts
Regulated by SCC/ Conservation Districts
Approval
None required
Approved by Conservation District Board
Liability Protection
None claimed
Limited liability for civil complaints

20. Manure Management Plan Nutrient Management Plan
Example Problem
A horse operation with 10 horses on 10 acres is regulated differently then 10 horses on 4 acres.
10 horses on 10 acres
AEU = 10
AEU/Acre = 1
Manure Management Plan
10 horses on 4 acres
AEU = 10
AEU/Acre = 2.5
Nutrient Management Plan
How?

21. Concentrated Animal Operation (CAO) :
Animal Type
No. Animals X
Animal
Weight (lbs) ÷
1000 = AU
Days on Farm
365
AEUs
Mature Draft Horse 3
1800
5.4
Total AU
Total AEU
Acres available for manure
Animal Density: AEU/ Acre
1 AU = 1,000 lbs
Concentrated Animal Operation (CAO) :
More than 2 AEU/Acre AND More than 8 AEUs

22. Total Manure Production Daily Manure Production *
Animal Type AU X
Daily Manure Production *
Days on Farm ÷
2,000 =
Total Manure Produced
Mature Draft Horse
5.4
55 lb/ AU/ Day
365
54 Tons
The number 55 lb/AU/ Day is the average daily production for a horse (based on 1 AU, which equals 1,000 lbs. ) This number is a given factor, and can be found on table Average Daily Production and Total Content of Manure.

23. Total Uncollected Manure Daily Manure Production*
Animal Type AU X
Daily Manure Production*
Days on Pasture
Hours on Pasture ÷ 24
2,000 =
Uncollected
Manure
Mature Draft Horse
5.4
55 lb/AU/Day
280 11
2000
19 Tons
Total Uncollected Manure

24. Total Collected Manure
TOTAL Manure Produced -
UNCOLLECTED Manure =
Collected Manure
54 Tons
19 Tons
* 35 Tons
Amount of manure needed to be stored and/or spread