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| FARM*A*SYST | |||||
| Worksheet #8 Manure Use and Management: How Do You Rate? | |||||
| Item | Best 4 | Good 3 | Fair 2 | Poor 1 | |
| MANURE USE | |||||
| 1 | Application rate for manure fertilizer | Based on BMPs for nitrogen management. | ------- | ------- | Not based on BMPs for nitrogen management. |
| 2 | Manure testing | Regular testing of manure to analyze for nutrients. | Occasional testing of manure to analyze for nutrients. | Manure is not tested, and
manure is assumed to have average nutrient values. |
Manure is not tested. |
| 3 | Adjustment to amount of fertilizer used (organic and inorganic sources) | Based on BMPs and GPs. | ------- | ------- | Fertilizer use not based on BMPs and GPs. |
| 4 | Waste management plan | Written plan to handle farm wastes,
and
plan includes testing, proper application rates, and emergency action in event of spills or system failures, and
all aspects of plan are carried out. |
Written plan to handle farm wastes,
and
most aspects of plan are carried out. |
No written plan to handle farm wastes,
but
steps are being taken to learn about improved manure management methods that have less impact on environment. |
No written plans to develop or carry out manure management plan. |
| IMPACT ON ENVIRONMENT | |||||
| 5 | Timing of manure incorporation | Manure incorporated into soil immediately after application | Manure incorporated into soil immediately to 3 days after application. | Manure incorporated into soil 3 to 7 days after application. | Manure incorporated into soil 7 or more days after application. |
| 6 | Knowledge of proper rates of application | Operator has developed proficiency in
applying BMPs, by using nutrient content analyses
and calibration techniques, and
skills learned have been put into practice. |
Operator has gained knowledge of BMPs,
and
has put some BMPs into practice. |
------- | Operator has made no attempt to find out
about proper application rates for manure, and
does not use BMPs. |
| 7 | Transportation and transfer of manure from storage to field | All safety precautions taken to minimize
the risk of leaks or major spills, and
proper cleanup procedures followed. |
Leaks have been repaired and cleaned up
quickly with no harm to the environment, and
proper cleanup procedures followed. |
------- | No specific plan for cleanup of spills. |
| 8 | Proper irrigation scheduling to reduce downward movement of nutrients | Operator understands principles for sound irrigation management (soil moisture and plant water stress), and puts the knowledge into practice. | Weather data used such as on AZMET to schedule irrigations. | Historical calendar data used to schedule irrigations. | Irrigation scheduling not based on plant needs. |
| OFF-FARM SOURCES OF NUTRIENTS | |||||
| 9 | Biosolids | Meet all federal, state, and local government
standards, and
have all required permits, and
are applied according to the BMPs for nitrogen fertilizer management. |
------- | ------- | Do not meet all
federal, state, and local government standards,
and
do not have required permits, and
do not use nitrogen fertilizer BMPs for application. |
| 10 | Distance of biosolids that are not exceptional quality, from wells | Biosolids are stored or applied at least 250
feet from any water well, and
at least 1,000 feet from any public or semipublic drinking water well. |
------- | ------- | Biosolids are stored or applied
closer than 250 feet from any water well,
and
closer than 1,000 feet from any public or semipublic drinking water well. |
| Bold italic conditions violate federal, state, or local laws. | |||||
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