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Abstract

The Wisconsin Discovery Farms Program was one of the first on-farm evaluation projects to identify the risk of manure applications in the late winter period. Data from several of our farms have shown that manure applied during February and March has an increased risk of running off and contributing to high nutrient losses in surface water. This data has been used to justify the establishment of recommendations, rules and regulations on winter manure spreading. But, do bans on winter manure spreading (spreading on frozen or snow covered ground) actually reduce the risk of manure runoff? A close evaluation of the data indicates that spreading during early winter (November – January) is much different than during late winter when frost can extend deeper and be more solid in the soil profile. Total winter application bans also increase the volume of manure that needs to be stored and increase the risk of runoff during the spring spreading season.

Based on the data from the Wisconsin Discovery Farms Program, manure spreading bans should be established based on field conditions, and not a calendar. There are times when applying manure early in the winter is optimal because lack of snow and/or frost affords the opportunity for manure to come into contact with the soil. There are also times when manure can be safely applied in late March, when the soils have thawed, snowmelt is finished and the fields are fit. Not allowing farmers to begin fieldwork based on calendar dates can greatly increase the potential for runoff because the window for manure applications is smaller and the potential for runoff from saturated soils and spring rains is greater.

Why Did the Discovery Farms Project Study Nutrient Runoff?

The Wisconsin Discovery Farms Program was established in 2001 with leadership from farmers, their advisors and their industry groups to gather water quality data from working farms around Wisconsin and to use that data to educate farmers, industry personnel, consumers and policymakers. At the time, there was little reliable year-round information on actual phosphorus, nitrogen or sediment loss from fields with different management practices, physical settings or weather related events.

What Did We Do?

Average runoff timing and frequency from Wisconsin Discovery Farms, 2003-2008

The US Geological Survey partners with the Discovery Farms Program to provide high quality year-round data collected from agricultural fields, in streams, and within tile drainage. Monitoring has been conducted on more than 10 farms all around the state, totaling over 150 site years of data.

What Have We Learned?

The Discovery Farms data shows losses from the edge of field are, on average, 667 pounds of sediment, 2 pounds of phosphorus and 7 pounds of nitrogen. While these numbers are important, the real value is in the variation, factors, and the management decisions that can influence nutrient and sediment losses. One of the most important lessons learned is the impact of the timing of manure application on nutrient loss. The key to reducing loss of nutrients from manure applications is to maximize the time between a manure application and a runoff event. As a producer, you need to understand the factors that cause runoff and options you have when manure spreading is not feasible.

Approximately 90% of the annual runoff in Wisconsin occurs from December through June. From December through March, most of the runoff is caused by snowmelt or rain on frozen/snow covered ground. During every year and on every site monitored, there has been runoff in March. Avoiding manure application during February and March can reduce nutrient loss, as 50% of the annual runoff happens during these two months. From April through June, runoff is driven by intense storm events or saturated soil conditions. In any given year, there can be times when fields are fit for manure application during this same time period based on little to no snow cover, early spring conditions, or droughty periods.

Future Plans

Prohibiting spreading based on calendar dates does not allow producers to assess the conditions in their immediate location. Management by calendar dates can force producers to spread during conditions when the risk for runoff is high because storage facilities are full. The conditions vary each year, and waiting for a specific calendar date can make producers miss opportune times for manure application so that field activities can be completed in a timely manner.

To prepare producers for assessing their own situations, Discovery Farms has provided intensive education and outreach on the factors that cause runoff in Wisconsin. By understanding the factors that cause runoff and management strategies that reduce nutrient loss, Wisconsin agriculture producers can maintain and improve water quality resources and farm productivity.

Authors

Amber Radatz, Outreach Specialist, UW Discovery Farms, aradatz@wisc.edu

Eric Cooley, Outreach Specialist, UW Discovery Farms

Dennis Frame, Director, UW Discovery Farms

Additional Information

www.uwdiscoveryfarms.org

UW Discovery Farms on Facebook

The authors are solely responsible for the content of these proceedings. The technical information does not necessarily reflect the official position of the sponsoring agencies or institutions represented by planning committee members, and inclusion and distribution herein does not constitute an endorsement of views expressed by the same. Printed materials included herein are not refereed publications. Citations should appear as follows. EXAMPLE: Authors. 2013. Title of presentation. Waste to Worth: Spreading Science and Solutions. Denver, CO. April 1-5, 2013. URL of this page. Accessed on: today’s date.

Why Is It Important for Industry and Regulators to Work Together?

The community in the Yakima Region of Washington State has raised concerns over the potential adverse effects of air emissions from dairy operations. To address these concerns, the Yakima Regional Clean Air Agency (YRCAA) proposed a policy process in October 2010 to control and mitigate emissions through implementation of site-specific best management practices (BMPs) on dairy operations. Absent a lack of reliable methodologies for estimating emissions from dairies, the YRCAA enrolled experts and scientists to help create tools that could be used for estimation of emissions from dairy operations. The assessment of BMPs aimed at mitigating air emissions from dairies was also included to determine their effect on the character, amount, and dispersion of specific air pollutants. This project assessed the effect of voluntary verses policy driven action on the dairy industry, community, and environmental impacts of air emissions from dairy operations.

What Did We Do?

The Yakima Regional Clean Air Agency (YRCAA) proposed a draft policy in October 2010 to control and mitigate emissions through implementation of site-specific best management practices (BMPs) on dairy operations. To validate the policy, a “Pilot Research Project” was launched in February 2011 to gather information for one year to test the feasibility of implementing and determining policy effectiveness. Twelve operations, representing ~40% of the estimated regional cow numbers, volunteered to participate.

A description of proven BMPs and a BMP selection-guide were created to help producers develop site-specific Air Quality Management Plans (AQMP). Each AQMP identified, systematically, specific BMPs to mitigate emissions from each area of the dairy system (nutrition, feed management, milk parlor, housing-drylot, housing-freestall, grazing, manure management, land application, other) based on effectiveness, practicality and economics. The pollutants addressed in each AQMP included ammonia, nitrous oxide, hydrogen sulfide, volatile organic compounds, odor, particulate matter, oxides of nitrogen, and methane. A universal score-sheet was created to assess implementation of BMPs at each dairy. The YRCAA inspectors were trained to evaluate, score, and record BMP implementation. A whole-farm score was generated during each visit, which identified areas of improvement to be addressed.

The process was very unique in that the dairy industry took a proactive role and actively participated. Using science and air quality experts to create and validate the evaluation tools and process also brought authority to the process. The policy was revised based on information collected from the pilot project and was adopted in February 2012. To date, 22 operations, representing 57% of total cow numbers in the Yakima Region, are enrolled.

What Have We Learned?

The voluntary approach used during the pilot project phase of the policy was very effective in enrolling the dairy community. Producers stepped up to volunteer and cooperatively participate in an unknown process. Even though they were very robust and integrated a large amount of scientific information, the emission assessment tools created as an outcome of the pilot project were very user friendly and easy to interpret by planners and producers. The air quality BMP assessment tool is currently being evaluated for use by other agencies and institutions.

Future Plans

The YRCAA has entered into phase two of the policy process and are now mandating that dairies participate in the air quality assessment. Starting in March 2013, all dairy operations in the Yakima basin will be either voluntarily or mandatorily inspected and assessed for air quality improvements. This provides an opportunity to compare voluntary and mandatory policy processes. The long-term impact of the process is yet unknown.

Authors