Sewer systems and manure systems can be overwhelmed in current conditions
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An alert from: Cornell CALS PRO-DAIRY, Northeast Dairy Producers Association and New York Farm Bureau
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Snowmelt, rain and frozen soil conditions are generating significant runoff. These conditions can cause problems in urban and rural areas. For dairy and livestock farms, if at all possible, do not apply manure in the current weather and soil conditions. If a manure storage structure is in danger of overtopping, check to see if any neighbors have spare storage capacity and transfer manure before resorting to land application. If land application is absolutely necessary, follow precautions outlined in winter and wet weather spreading guidelines as required by your CAFO Permit.
Talk with your planner to:
- Identify lower risk fields
- Reduce application rates where possible
- Increase spreading setbacks
- Locate and avoid spreading in concentrated flows, swales and other sensitive areas
- Apply to fields with crop residue on the surface
- Discuss other risk management options for your situation
Though mixing manure into the soil is normally a risk reduction practice, the current conditions are likely to prevent doing so. If a farm applies manure and causes a discharge, the farm is obligated to report it to the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). Water quality violations are taken very seriously by DEC. A farm’s ability to show they followed guidelines and worked with their planner during challenging weather conditions is critical to discussions with DEC if violations occur.
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