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POLICE STATE! Pennsylvania REQUIRING anyone who owns ANY type of livestock OR crops using manure to fill out management plan!
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I saw something in my local newspaper about a free manure management manual workshop provided by the county's "conservation district" and was curious so I started Googling. What I found floored me. Apparently, on October 29, Pennsylvania implemented new regulations for ANYONE who owns any type of livestock (even just ONE chicken, ANYTHING that generates manure!) OR who uses manure on crops to have a "Manure Management Plan"!!
Check this stuff out for more information, this is Agenda 21 and how they are going to regulate owning livestock or growing crops!! This will apply to ANYONE who owns livestock, not just large scale farming operations, and the wording is vague enough to cover your own hobby garden if you use manure. You will be in violation of state or possibly federal law if you do not have the management plan filled out and implemented!
They even want you to fill create a map with the layout of your property, and must be able to be given to the Department of Environmental Protection or the local conservation district if they knock on your door!
Every farm in Pennsylvania that land applies manure is required to have some type of a written plan that describes how the manure and other nutrients are managed. This includes manure application by various types of equipment and/or direct application by animals on pastures and in animal concentration areas.
[link to www.snydercounty.org]
Overview of Manure Management Guidelines for PA Farmers Generating or Using Manure
Who these guidelines pertain to:
A. All farms that generate or use manure, regardless of the size of the farm, including farms that:
Pasture livestock or poultry, or Maintain an Animal Concentration Area (barnyard, exercise lot, or feedlot), or Apply manure to their crop fields
General manure management requirements for farms generating or using manure:
A. Develop a written Manure Management Plan
D. The manure management plan written for these operations does not need to be submitted for review and approval, these plans just need to be retained on site
[link to panutrientmgmt.cas.psu.edu]
The Manure Management Plan format in this manual must be used for the written manure management plan unless the farmer gets approval from DEP for an alternative plan format. In addition to developing a written plan, the farmer must also complete and maintain records to demonstrate compliance with the Manure Management Plan. DEP has developed a Manure Management Plan Workbook for farmers to use that contains the forms described in this manual.
Once completed, this Workbook will become the farm’s Manure Management Plan which must be implemented. The staff from DEP or county conservation district may request to see a copy of this plan when they visit a farm. The farmer should also provide a copy of the Manure Management Plan Summary Worksheet to the individual that land applies manure at a farm or on any rented land. Failure to follow the plan is a violation of state, and in some cases, federal law.
The Manure Management Plan format in this manual must be used for the written manure management plan unless the farmer gets approval from DEP for an alternative plan format.
Section 1 - General Information. This section includes general information about the farm. This section is always required in a manure management plan.
Section 2 - Mechanical Manure Application Rate and Timing. This section documents manure application rates and timing for mechanical application of manure. This section is always required in a manure management plan.
Section 3 - Farm Map. This section provides a farm map identifying the location of fields, structures, environmentally sensitive areas and manure application setbacks. This section is always required in a manure management plan.
Section 4 - Recordkeeping. This section provides a description of required recordkeeping and provides forms that can be used for recordkeeping. This section is always required in a manure management plan.
Full PDF, way too much to post, available here - [link to panutrientmgmt.cas.psu.edu]
Live in PA and own a horse? This new rule will affect you.
The regulations will be enforced by the Department of Environmental Protection, and are expected to be complaint driven – i.e. if someone complains, the farm will get a visit.
[link to www.pennsylvaniaequestrian.com]
Here's an article to one of the manure management manual workshops:
Milford —
Training on the new Manure Management Manual & Conservation Planning Pennsylvania landowners who own farm animals and livestock are required to develop a plan for the safe disposal of the animal waste. No matter the number of animals you own, you are required to develop a Manure Management Plan, pursuant to Chapter 91 relating to Water Quality.
[link to www.wayneindependent.com]
The Ag Compliance regulations above are effective statewide. However, if you are in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, you will be receiving an on-farm visit from either conservation district staff or DEP to discuss these requirements with you. These are outreach visits, not enforcement visits, and they are being required as part of the Watershed Implementation Plan which was put in place to meet EPA's demands. Every conservation district that has a Chesapeake Bay technician is required to make 100 on-site farm visits a year, and the end goal is to have visited every farm in the bay by 2017. DEP staff in the bay are also required to do 100 visits in their region each year. These visits are not optional, however, please remember they are for outreach only, they are not for enforcement. The person making the visit is not going to inspect the operation. They will be reviewing the ag compliance requirements and giving out informational packets.
[link to republicanherald.com]
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