Preview: Case Study – Environmental Issues in the Livestock Industry

Here’s a little idea of what this case study entails.  We’ll try to post the entire presentation soon!

Case Study:

Thomas Bass (Montana State University) & Jill Hoemstra ( U of Nebraska – Lincoln)

Navigating Environmental Issues: Beginning Livestock & Poultry Producers

US Senator Jon Tester

-          3^rd gen farmer, butcher, and teacher

-          1500 + acres primarily organic wheat and barley

-          Big Sandy, MT: pop 703

Quotes from letter from Sen. Tester:  “There will always be challenges. There will also always be opporutnities.  Be an innovator.  Most of the successful farmers I know today took chances no one else would…. The future of agriculture is bright, and you are the future.”

Environmental Concern

-          Primarily non-point source water pollution

• Collective run off from an area
• In animal ag: run-off could be from confinement areas, manure, and feed storage, or land application areas.

-          Livestock and poultry operations have the potential to contribute the following to waters of the US:

• Nutrients,
• sediment,
• pathogens,
• organic matter

-          Existing Regulations

• Primarily water quality driven
  • Clean water act (CWA< USEPA< 1972, 77, 87)
  • CAFO Permitting
• State rules and delegated authority
  • State rules and delegated authority
    • State enforce on behalf of federal government
    • Local ordinances
      • Zoning, setback, air quality, other

-          Animal Feeding Operations

• Most detailed an descriptive rules apply to Animal Feeding Operations (AFOs and CAFOs)
  • Permitting: federa and/or state level
• Animals in confinement in area with no vegetation (or inside), feed delivered
• Permits are size based

-          Base of permit and documentation

• Nutrient Management plan (NMP)
  • “Nutrient and Manure Checkbook”
  • Document and supporting records that account for fertilizer and manure; needs, inventory, use (land application) and export
  • Based on: soil tests, manure tests, yield goals and crop nutrient needs
  • Also documents other

-          Benefits Beyond Compliance

• NMP or similar environmental plan can:
  • Allow for better use of on-site manure nutrients; save on fertilizer purchases and improve soil
  • Reduce liability of spills/water pollution
  • Document/defend against environmental accusation
  • Improve access to credit & insurance

-          Pasture and Range

• Little regulation exists
• Many options for voluntary conservation and stewardship
• Poor management could attract unwanted attention
• Clean water act can still apply

-          On the horizon: air and emissions

• Green House Gasses (CH4, CO3, N2O)

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