Mississippi Farm-A-Syst
Managing Animal Wastes
Before Completing Your Self-Assessment
This animal waste management
self-assessment is an important part of the Farm-A-Syst program. This voluntary
program helps you evaluate activities and conditions on your farm that could
be a threat to your drinking water and to water quality in nearby lakes
or streams. This introductory information will help you understand the importance
of managing animal wastes, from water quality, health, and environmental
perspectives. Read it carefully before completing this self-assessment.
This self-assessment
is one in a series of voluntary environmental self-assessments in the
Farm-A-Syst program. For a complete picture of all activities or conditions
on your farm that could affect water quality, review and complete the
other Farm-A-Syst environmental self-assessments available from the Extension
Energy Center. You also are encouraged to review and complete other self-assessments
in the companion Home-A-Syst program, available at your county Extension
office.
Your responses to
this self-assessment are for your use. Although completing this self-assessment
is voluntary, taking a few minutes to respond to it may help you identify
potential areas on your farm that could lead to water quality problems.
You may find it useful to involve your spouse and/or children in completing
your self-assessment. If you need other help or follow-up information,
contact your county Extension office.
Why You Should Be Concerned
About Animal Wastes
If not managed properly,
animal wastes from concentrated hog, beef, dairy, and poultry operations
can affect your health, water quality, and the water quality and health
of others. Bacteria in animal wastes can contaminate drinking water and
may cause potentially serious illnesses. High levels of nitrates, a form
of nitrogen that develops naturally in animal wastes, in drinking water
may particularly harm unborn or young infants and young livestock. Nutrients
in animal wastes that enter streams also may lower oxygen levels and kill
fish and other wildlife. Odors from animal operations may cause problems
with neighbors and create a negative public perception of agriculture.
Proper animal
waste management reduces these concerns. Animal wastes also are an important
source of plant nutrients for crop production. Other aspects of animal
production, such as how animal carcasses are disposed of and silage storage
methods, also may contaminate water by introducing bacteria or nitrates.
For these reasons, silage storage and animal carcass disposal are included
in this self-assessment.
To protect water
quality, your animal waste management system should be properly designed,
built, and maintained. At a minimum, your animal waste lagoon, animal
waste storage area, or animal waste land application area should be at
least 100 feet from a private well or other water source, and preferably
farther away if possible. You should also apply animal wastes to growing
crops or pastures when possible and according to approved application
rates. Animal waste land applications also should be 1,000 feet or farther
from other residences. Cover any animal wastes transported on public roads
to avoid possible pollution.
A Word About Regulations
For your information,
some activities in this self-assessment are listed in bold type to
indicate they could violate state water quality, health, or environmental
laws. These regulations concern the potential of animal wastes to contaminate
your own water supply, the water supply of others, or any designated state
waters such as a lake, stream, and other water sources.
Always keep in mind that although regulatory considerations are important,
they should not be the only factor in your animal waste management decisions.
Many unregulated activities on your farm can affect water quality. Consider
required distances between animal wastes and a water source as minimum
safe distances and try to maintain farther distances if possible.
If you need more
information about these regulations, contact the Mississippi
Department of Environmental Quality, Mississippi
State Department of Health, your county health department, or the
Mississippi Board of Animal Health. For information
on designing, building, and maintaining an animal waste management system,
contact your county Soil Conservation Service office or county Extension
office. See the bottom of this publication for information on how to contact
these agencies.
Understanding Your Self-Assessment
Your drinking water and
other water supplies are least likely to be contaminated by animal wastes
if you use as many of the low-risk practices listed in this self-assessment
as you can reasonably follow. You may not be able to use all low-risk practices,
but use as many as practical to protect your water quality, health, and
the water quality and health of others.
As you complete your self-assessment, do not be alarmed if you check several
or even many high-risk statements. This does not automatically mean your
farm has water quality problems. It could, however, tell you that your
attention may be needed to avoid potential problems. A score
sheet is included to help you better understand your completed self-assessment.
If you need additional help, contact your Extension office.
Directions
This self-assessment
is a series of three-part statements, each with a low, medium, and
high ranking. This ranking relates to the level of risk to your drinking
water quality or other environmental risks associated with that activity
or condition. First, read all statements in each set; then check
the ranking that best describes conditions on your farm. Some parts
of this self-assessment may not apply to you; read all parts and respond
to those that do. Remember, this self-assessment is for your information,
and your goal is to apply as many low-risk practices as you can.
Part 1. General (All livestock
farmers should complete this section.)
Level of risk
Low ( ) You
have an organized plan to manage animal wastes. You know their nutrient
content and value, land-apply them as recommended, and keep good records
of land applications.
Medium
( ) You manage and land-apply animal wastes according to a plan but don't
know their nutrient content and value. You keep some records of animal
waste land applications.
High ( ) You
have no plan to manage and land-apply animal wastes and don't know their
nutrient content and value. No records are kept of any land-applied animal
wastes.
Low
( ) Your animal waste storage and treatment facilities are more than 100
feet downhill from a well or water source.
Medium ( )
Your animal waste facilities are more than 100 feet on grade with or slightly
uphill from a well or water source.
High ( ) Your
animal waste storage and treatment facilities are uphill less than 100
feet from a well or water source, or pollution from facilities reaches
a well or water source.
Low
( ) You regularly check animal waste storage and treatment facilities
for leaks, spills, or overflows and make repairs before any losses.
Medium ( )
You occasionally check animal waste facilities and make repairs at the
first sign of leaks, spills, or overflows.
High ( ) Your
animal waste facilities are generally ignored and not checked for leaks,
spills, or overflows.
Low
( ) Your animal waste storage and treatment facilities are designed and
built to handle current and future capacity. You manage them properly
to prevent overloading and overflows.
Medium ( )
Your animal waste facilities are designed and built to specifications
existing at the time but don't always function correctly because of age
or system overload.
High ( ) Your
animal waste facilities are not built to design specifications, or you
have no facilities to store and treat animal wastes.
Low
( ) You soil test animal waste land application areas every year and regularly
calibrate land application equipment to make sure recommended, uniform
rates are applied. You try not to apply wastes within 24 hours of rain.
Medium ( )
You soil test animal waste land application areas every 2 to 3 years.
You usually calibrate land application equipment and check weather conditions
before land-applying wastes.
High ( ) You
seldom or never soil test animal waste land application areas, don't calibrate
land application equipment, and land-apply wastes regardless of the weather.
Low
( ) You land-apply all animal wastes more than 100 feet from a well, stream,
or other water source. This buffer strip has growing crops or vegetation.
Medium ( )
You usually land-apply animal wastes at least 100 feet from a well or
water source but sometimes apply wastes generously to lawn and gardens
near the well without considering the nutrient needs of plants.
High ( ) You
frequently land-apply animal wastes less than 100 feet from a well or
other water source, or pollution from land-applied wastes reaches a
well or water source.
Low
( ) Your livestock feeding, loafing, or grazing area is more than 100
feet from a well. Livestock have no direct access to a stream or waterway.
Medium ( )
Your livestock feeding, loafing, or grazing area is 100 feet from a well,
or livestock have limited access to a stream or surface water source.
High ( ) Your
livestock feeding, loafing, or grazing area is less than 100 feet from
a well, or livestock have unlimited access to a stream. Animal wastes
enter a stream or other surface waters.
Part 2. Liquid Animal Wastes
(Complete this section if you have a lagoon or other above-ground system.)
Level of risk
Low ( ) Your animal
waste lagoon is designed and installed according to the latest approved
engineering standards and is site-specific to your farm. The system holds
all liquids and is more than 100 feet from a well or water source.
Medium ( )
Your animal waste lagoon is designed according to older standards or is
built in silt or clay loam soil and holds all liquids. The system is more
than 100 feet from a well or water source.
High ( ) Your
animal waste lagoon is not designed to approved standards or is built
in sandy soils without an interior liner. The lagoon does not hold all
liquids and is less than 100 feet from a well or water source.
Low
( ) Your animal waste lagoon is large enough to handle sludge, wastewater,
90 to 180 days wastewater storage, and storm water. There are no overflows.
Medium ( )
Your lagoon meets existing treatment needs, but sludge has built up to
where an over flow in heavy rains is possible if the recommended wastewater
volume is maintained.
High ( ) Your
lagoon does not meet existing animal waste treatment needs, and overflows
happen during normal use or after rains.
Low
( ) You regularly pump down your animal waste lagoon according to recommended
procedures. Enough liquid is left to meet treatment needs, and enough
space is left above the liquid to account for heavy rains and to prevent
overflows.
Medium ( )
You regularly pump down your lagoon but don't always leave enough liquid
to meet treatment needs or enough space above the liquid to account for
heavy rainfall events.
High ( ) Your
lagoon is seldom or never pumped down, and overflows happen during
normal use or after rains.
Low
( ) You apply liquid animal wastes to growing crops or vegetation according
to an approved waste management plan that considers the nutrient content
of wastes and crop nutrient needs.
Medium ( )
You apply liquid animal wastes uniformly to crops or vegetation but without
knowing the nutrient content of wastes or crop nutrient needs.
High ( ) You
land-apply liquid animal wastes over and over on small, uncropped areas
and less than 100 feet from a well or other water source, or pollution
from land-applied liquid wastes reaches a well or water source.
Low
( ) Your milking center wastewater (dairy farmers only) drains directly
into a liquid manure storage facility and is land-applied with other wastes.
Medium ( )
Your milking center wastewater drains outside to a grass or vegetated
area.
High ( ) Your
milking center wastewater drains outside into a ditch that flows to
a surface water source or drains to a well.
Part 3. Solid Animal Wastes
(Complete this section if you store solid or dry wastes.)
Level of risk
Low ( ) Your solid
animal waste storage facility is designed so all uphill runoff water and
roof water are directed away from the storage area. Medium
( ) Most uphill runoff water and most roof water are directed away from
your animal waste storage area.
High ( ) No
uphill runoff water or roof water is redirected before it reaches your
animal waste storage area. Water runs freely through the storage area
or livestock yard.
Low
( ) You clean and scrape your dairy livestock yard daily to prevent heavy
waste accumulation. Wastes are land-applied at least weekly to avoid sanitation
problems.
Medium ( )
You clean and scrape your dairy livestock yard about once a week. Wastes
are land-applied within 7 days.
High ( ) You
seldom or never clean and scrape your dairy livestock yard. Waste is allowed
to accumulate longer than 7 days and causes sanitation problems.
Low
( ) If you temporarily store solid animal wastes in an open air manure
stack, it is on a concrete slab with a heavy plastic cover and more
than 100 feet from a well or water source. All surface water runoff is
channeled away from the stack.
Medium ( )
If you temporarily store solid animal wastes in an open air manure
stack, it is on high ground on clay or heavy soils with a plastic
cover and more than 100 feet from a well or water source.
High ( ) If
you temporarily store solid animal wastes in an open air manure stack,
it is on high ground on sandy soil without a cover and less than 100 feet
from a well or water source, or pollution from stored solid wastes
reaches a well or water source.
Low
( ) If you temporarily store solid animal wastes in a contained manure
stack, it is in a building with side walls and a concrete floor and
is more than 100 feet from a well or water source.
Medium ( )
If you temporarily store solid animal wastes in a contained manure
stack, the storage area has a roof and a packed clay soil floor and
is more than 100 feet from a well or water source.
High ( ) If
you temporarily store solid animal wastes in a contained manure stack,
the storage area has a leaking roof, a sandy soil floor, or is less than
100 feet from a well or water source, or pollution from stored solid
wastes reaches a well or water source.
Low
( ) You fully tarp or cover all solid animal wastes hauled on public roads
to avoid polluting roadways and ditches.
Medium ( )
You usually tarp or cover solid animal wastes hauled on public roads but
sometimes don't cover wastes hauled very short distances.
High ( ) You
usually don't tarp or cover animal wastes hauled on public roads. Wastes
that blow off the truck enter a ditch and pollute surface waters.
Part 4. Silage Storage (Complete
this section if you store silage at any time.)
Level of risk
Low ( ) You reduce
the amount of silage liquid produced during storage by using harvesting
methods to keep the silage moisture content below 65 percent at the time
of storage. Medium
( ) The moisture content of silage stored on your farm is 65-80 percent
when it is put into storage.
High ( ) The
moisture content of silage stored on your farm is more than 80 percent
when it is put into storage.
Low
( ) Your upright concrete silo has a concrete floor, or your open trench
or bunker silo has concrete sides and floor with an outside plastic cover.
All silage liquids are contained in the storage area.
Medium ( )
Your upright concrete silo has a dirt floor, or your open trench silo
has an interior liner and plastic cover. Most silage liquids are contained
in the storage area.
High ( ) Your
open trench or open pit silo is built in sandy soil with no interior liner
or no plastic cover. Silage liquids seep into groundwater or drain
to a well or water source.
Low
( ) Your silage storage facility (any type) is more than 100 feet downhill
from a well or other water source.
Medium ( )
Your silage storage facility is more than 100 feet on grade with or slightly
uphill from a well or other water source.
High ( ) Your
silage storage facility is less than 100 feet uphill from a well or water
source. Silage liquids drain downhill to a well or water source.
Low
( ) Your silage storage facility (any type) is well-maintained and in
good condition and needs no repairs.
Medium ( )
Your silage storage facility is maintained only as needed but is in generally
fair condition with some repairs needed.
High ( ) Your
silage storage facility is not well-maintained and is in poor condition
and needs major repairs.
Part 5. Animal Carcass Disposal
Level of risk
Low ( ) You dispose
of occasional dead farm animals by composting, contacting a local
incinerator or rendering company where available, or you contact your local
health department or veterinarian for approved sanitary disposal methods.
Medium
( ) You dispose of occasional dead farm animals by covering them
with at least two feet of dirt and more than 100 feet from a well or water
source, or by burning.
High ( ) You
dispose of occasional dead farm animals by dumping in a stream
or gully, or by allowing them to decompose in the open near a residence.
Low
( ) You dispose of dead poultry (commercial poultry farmers only) in a
well-designed and functioning composting bin. Used compost is land-applied
or recycled according to recommendations.
Medium ( )
You dispose of dead poultry by incineration or through a poultry rendering
facility.
High ( ) You
dispose of dead poultry in underground pits less than 300 feet from a
well, or dead birds are piled up uncovered or dumped in a gully, stream,
or near other water sources.
Bold
type means, in addition to being a high-risk practice, this activity violates
Mississippi water quality or health laws.
This score sheet helps
you understand your self-assessment by letting you compare your low, medium,
and high risk activities and conditions. To do your score sheet, use a pocket
calculator and follow these steps:
- First, count your
answers for each level of risk in your self-assessment. Write
these numbers in the three spaces in the left part of the chart below.
- Second, add these
numbers to give your total number of answers. Write this number
in each of the three spaces to the right of the divided sign in the
chart. You'll use this same number each time to figure a percentage.
- Third, divide your
number of answers in each level of risk by your total number of answers.
Multiply your answer each time by 100 to convert this number to a percent.
|
|
|
Total
number
of
answers |
|
|
|
|
|
| Number of low
risk answers |
______ |
÷ |
______ |
X |
100 |
= |
______ |
% |
| Number of medium
risk answers |
______ |
÷ |
______ |
X |
100 |
= |
______ |
% |
| Number of high
risk answers |
______ |
÷ |
______ |
X |
100 |
= |
______ |
% |
Using percentages
is an easy way to compare your low risk, medium risk, and high risk activities
or conditions. For example, if your percentage in the lower right column
is 50, it means that 50 percent of the activities or conditions in your
self-assessment are a high risk to water quality or the environment.
Although there are
no "passing" or "failing" grades on your self-assessment, you may find
it useful to compare your percentage of high risk activities to the environmental
scorecard below.
- Less than 25 high
risk answers -- You're far ahead of the pack in your water quality
protection program.
- 25 to 50 high
risk answers -- Your water quality program generally is on track.
A nudge could push you nearer the top.
- 51 to 75 high
risk answers -- You're doing some things right but have a way to
go in your water quality program.
- 76 to 100 high
risk answers -- There's no cause to panic, but you may want to get
help to correct some activities.
For More Information
Mississippi water quality
regulations
Mississippi
Department of Environmental Quality
Office of Pollution Control
P. O. Box 10385
Jackson, MS 39289-0385
(601) 961-5171
Mississippi health regulations
(sanitation and well separation distances)
Your county health department
or
Mississippi
State Department of Health
P. O. Box 1700
Jackson, MS 39215-1700
(601) 960-7689
Animal carcass disposal
Mississippi
Board of Animal Health
2531 North West Street
P. O. Box 4389
Jackson, MS 39296-4389
(601) 354-6089 or 1-800-852-1279
Designing, installing, or
maintaining animal waste management systems
Your county Soil Conservation
Service office or
Soil Conservation Service
Suite 1321, Federal Building
100 West Capitol Street
Jackson, MS 39269
(601) 965-5205
or
Your county Extension
office
Animal waste management cost-share
assistance
Your county Agricultural
Stabilization and Conservation Service (ASCS) office or
Agricultural Stabilization
and Conservation Service
P. O. Box 14995
Jackson, MS 39236-4995
(601) 965-4300
This
material is based on work supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture,
Extension Service, under special project number 90-EHUA-1-0014.
By Dr. Jimmy
Bonner, Farm-A-Syst program coordinator, Energy Extension Center,
in cooperation with the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality,
Mississippi State Department of Health, Mississippi Board of Animal Health,
Soil Conservation Service, and Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation
Service.
Mississippi
State University does not discriminate on the
basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability,
or veteran status.
Publication 1878
Extension Service of Mississippi State University, cooperating with U.S.
Department of Agriculture. Published in furtherance of Acts of Congress,
May 8 and June 30, 1914. Ronald A. Brown, Director
Copyright by Mississippi
State University. All rights reserved.
This document may be copied and distributed for nonprofit educational purposes
provided that credit is given to the Mississippi State University Extension
Service. |
