Updated
The Nutrient Management Act Program
The goal of
Operations designated as Concentrated Animal Operations (CAOs) are required by law to develop and follow a nutrient management plan for their operation. These are animal operations which have more than 2 animal equivalent units (2000 lbs. live animal weight) per acre of land on which manure may be applied. This land must be under the management control of the animal operation to be included in the plan.
All plans which are to be approved under NMA regulations must be written by a state certified Nutrient Management Specialist who has attended training and passed a test given by the State Conservation Commission. Individual farmers may become certified to write the Nutrient Management Plan for their own farm. The completed plan must then be sent to the York County Conservation District for a review and approval process. A state certified staff member will review the plan to see that it meets all state requirements. When the plan is determined to be complete, it is presented to the District Board of Directors for approval at their monthly meeting. Plans not meeting all requirements must be revised by the plan writer until they are complete. Plans must be reviewed by a certified specialist every three years (sooner if major changes occur in the operation) to determine if any revisions are needed.
Volunteer Plans
Animal operations which are not CAOs are encouraged to develop voluntary nutrient management plans. These plans will provide a written record of management decisions to ensure proper use of nutrients. Plans that are properly approved and implemented can provide limited liability protection in the case of manure mishandling complaints against the operation.
Certified Plan
Writers
As mentioned above, all nutrient plans submitted for approval must be written by a certified specialist. A list of these specialists may be obtained from the District or from the PA Nutrient Management website listed at the end of this article.
Changes
New, updated nutrient management regulations will go into
effect on
For more details on nutrient management regulations contact the Conservation District or log on to the PA nutrient management website listed at the end of this article.
The nutrient management regulations, formerly Act 6, have
now become part of Act 38 which is more commonly known as the
Cost Sharing – Plan Development
Incentive Program (PDIP), Plan Maintenance
Incentive Program
New rules are in place covering cost sharing for plan
development and updating existing plans to meet the new regulations. Cost share funds will also be available to
help defray costs associated with yearly plan updates and nutrient balance
sheets for importers.
Cost Sharing for Plan Implementation - NMPIGP Funds/ Agri-Link loans
Limited funds are available through the Nutrient Management Plan Implementation Grant Program to install Best Management Practices (BMPs) required by nutrient management plans. The State Conservation Commission announces when funds are available once or twice a year, and sets times when applications will be accepted. The Conservation District can provide details and applications.
Through the Agri-Link loan program, those operations with an approved nutrient management plan may be eligible for reduced interest loans needed to install Best Management Practices required for compliance with the plan.
New CAFO Regulations:
Updated regulations concerning Concentrated Animal Feeding
Operations (CAFOs) went into effect in 2005.
CAFOs are regulated in
Links to Further
Information on nutrient management:
PA Nutrient
Management Website: http://panutrientmgmt.cas.psu.edu
DEP CAFO information: http://www.dep.state.us Search using “CAFO”
York County
Conservation District: contact