DELAWARE NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT NOTES

"Animal Waste Management Plans"

WHO NEEDS AN ANIMAL WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN?

· The Delaware Nutrient Management Act requires all animal feeding operations (AFOs) to develop and implement a nutrient management plan (NMP) if a person has more than 8 animal units (see Nutrient Notes from February, 2000 for a definition of animal units), or any person who owns, leases or otherwise controls property in excess of 10 acres upon which nutrients are applied. In the case of an AFO where no other nutrients are used for farming and the animal waste is not land applied, the operator of the facility may substitute an animal waste management plan (AWMP) for a NMP.

· Larger AFOs, such as those with more than 100,000 broilers, may be classified as Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO). These operations have separate requirements that will be described in later Nutrient Management Notes.

WHAT ARE THE ESSENTIAL COMPONENTS OF AN ANIMAL WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN?

· General information needed in the plan includes the owner(s) name, address, telephone number, farm name, location, and real estate tax parcel ID number.

· The amount of manure removed from the farm each year and to whom and where it was transported.

· Information regarding mortality disposal and manure storage methods prior to transport off the farm.

HOW CAN I DETERMINE THE AMOUNT OF WASTE GENERATED AND REMOVED?

· The most reliable and accurate method of determining the amount of waste removed from your operation during the year would be to weigh all loads. However, in most cases this is not practical. If standard size loads are used to haul the waste from your farm, an average weight per load can be established and the total amount removed can be estimated by counting the number of loads.

· Another means of estimating waste production is to establish the volume capacity of all equipment used to remove the waste and to use waste density estimates (i.e., pounds per cubic foot) to calculate the estimated weight per load. Waste density estimates can be obtained by contacting the Delaware Department of Agriculture or your local Cooperative Extension Office.

· "Average" waste production values for various animal types and production practices are available for determining your annual waste production and removal. Although these averages are a relatively simple means of estimating your waste production, the actual amount of waste can be highly variable among poultry and livestock operations.

· The following is an example for calculating waste production and annual removal for reporting purposes. Broilers will produce approximately 1.1 tons of litter per 1,000 birds per flock. Although highly variable among farms and flocks, an estimate of cake production is 0.2 tons per 1,000 birds per flock. To calculate the waste production for a 50,000 capacity broiler farm having a total cleanout every 12 flocks (2 years), multiply 50 x 1.1 tons x 12 flocks = 660 tons. The amount of cake removed and reported for the first year would be 60 tons (assuming 6 flocks x 0.2 tons cake per 1,000 birds x 50). The estimate for the second year's report is 600 tons, which includes the total twoyear litter production (660 tons) minus the cake removed during the first year (60 tons).

WHEN AND HOW OFTEN DO I NEED TO FILE AN ANIMAL WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN?

· Starting 2003, one-fifth of the AFOs who choose to substitute an AWMP for a NMP will be required to develop these plans. On January 1 of each year, until the year 2007, an additional one-fifth of the AFOs will need to complete an AWMP. Individuals in a priority watershed as determined by the Delaware Nutrient Management Commission (DNMC) will be the first required to implement an AWMP (or NMP).

· Unlike a NMP, which needs to be renewed every four years or after a significant increase in production, an AWMP needs to be completed annually.

· After implementing an AWMP, the AFO shall submit to the DNMC by March 1 of every calendar year, on a form developed and supplied by the DNMC, a report detailing the basic components of their AWMP as mentioned above.

WHO IS QUALIFIED TO WRITE AN ANIMAL WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN?

· An AWMP must be developed by a person that has been certified by the DNMC. The minimum level of certification to write an AWMP is a nutrient generator classification. This certification requires attending a free, 6-credit course. Certified private nutrient applicators, commercial nutrient applicators, and nutrient consultants will also be qualified to write these plans.

· To be certified to write your own AWMP, the University of Delaware Cooperative Extension will offer classes starting in the priority watersheds well in advance of the deadline needed to file your plan. For AFOs that will be required to implement an AWMP in 2003, recording-keeping responsibilities should start in 2002. It is anticipated the certification classes will be offered starting in January 2001.

· By January 1, 2004, all owners of an AFO must be certified at a minimum level of the nutrient generator classification.

WHO WILL GET THIS INFORMATION AND HOW WILL IT BE USED?

· Your AWMP must be available for inspection by the Delaware Department of Agriculture and the DNMC. However, the individual information shall NOT be considered as public record under the Freedom of Information Act and shall NOT be disclosed to the public. Such data may be used for data compilations only.

· Summary information provided in annual reports will be used by the DNMC to track changes and improvements in animal waste management resulting from the Nutrient Management Program.

Prepared by Bud Malone and Dave Hansen, UD Cooperative Extension

Cooperative Extension Education in Agriculture and Home Economics, University of Delaware, Delaware State University and the United States Department of Agriculture cooperating. John C. Nye, Dean and Director. Distributed in furtherance of Acts of Congress of May 8 and June 30, 1914. It is the policy of the Delaware Cooperative Extension System that no person shall be subjected to discrimination on the grounds of race, color, sex, disability, age or national origin.

Last Updated: Monday, 19-Mar-2007 09:37:31 EDT