Michigan Department of Agriculture Environmental Stewardship Division Right to Farm Program

1

Right to Farm, An Overview

• Michigan Department of Agriculture Environmental
  Stewardship DivisionRight to Farm Program

2
What is Right to Farm?

• Environmental regulation of farms
• Complaint driven
• Voluntary
• Mediator
• Complainant
• Other agencies

3
MDA and DEQ Partnership

• Memorandum of understanding
• Non-emergency environmental concerns
• Allows MDA to work with producers

4
RTF Program Guidelines (p. 1)

• Generally Accepted Agricultural Management
  Practices (GAAMPs)
• Scientifically based
• Nuisance protection
• Environmental resource protection
• Soil
• Surface water
• Groundwater
• Air

5
GAAMPs

• 1988 - Manure Management
• 1991- Pesticide Utilization and Pest Control
• 1993 - Nutrient Utilization
• 1995 - Animal Care
• 1996 - Cranberry
• 2000 - Site Selection
• 2003 - Irrigation Water Use

6
A Quick Look

• Manure Management GAAMPs

7
Manure Management GAAMPs

• Runoff control
• Odor management
• Land application

8
Runoff Control and Wastewater Management (p. 8)
9
Runoff Control

• Keep clean water clean
• Storm water
• Barnyard/outside lots
• Manure storage
• Silage leachate
• Waste/wash water
• Milkhouse
• Parlor
• Land applications

10
Runoff Control continued

• Runoff control required if polluted runoff
• Leaves owners property
• Adversely impacts surface and/or groundwater
  quality
• Includes runoff to
• Neighbors land
• Roadside ditch
• Drainage ditch
• Creek, stream, or lake

11
Odor Management (p. 10)
12
Manage to Minimize Odors

• Odor perception is subjective (p. 10)
• Minimize (FIDO Model)
• Frequency
• Intensity
• Duration
• Offensiveness

13
Manure Management and Utilization

• Odor Management - Farmstead
• Manure storage
• Outside lots
• Feed materials
• Livestock housing

14
Manure Management and Utilization cont.

• Odor Management Land Application
• Dont spread when wind is blowing towards
  populated areas
• Dont spread on weekends and holidays
• Do spread in the morning
• Do use weather information
• Do take advantage of vegetation barriers
• Do establish vegetated air filters
• Do incorporate manure within 48 hours

15
Manure Application to Land (p. 18)
16
Manure Applications

• Keep records!
• Field
• How many acres covered
• Application rate
• Type of manure
• Know cropland base
• Determine application rate
• Apply at agronomic rates
• Incorporate
• Eliminate potential runoff
• Be aware of tile lines

17
Manure Management System Plan
18
MMSP

• MMSP focus areas
• Management of manure nutrients
• Management of manure and odor

19
MMSP continued

• Components of a MMSP
• Depends on individual farming operation
• Size
• Complexity
• Appropriate technology
• Farm specific
• Site specific
• Flexibility

20
Components of a MMSP (p. 34)

• Production
• Collection
• Storage
• Transfer
• Treatment
• Utilization
• Record keeping

21
MMSP

• Production
• Manure and bedding
• Milk house wastewater
• Parlor wash water
• Spoiled feed
• Silage leachate

22
MMSP

• Utilization
• Soil test recommendations
• Realistic yield goals
• Manure nutrient analysis
• Adequate land base
• Agronomic manure application rates

23
MMSP

• Record Keeping
• Soil test reports
• Date(s) of application
• Rate of manure applied
• Previous crops grown
• Yields of past crops

24
Nutrient Management

• Soil fertility testing
• Sample at least every three years
• Determines best utilization of nutrients
• Economically beneficial
• Long-term sustainability
• Environmental protection
• Manure analysis

25
Good Management

• Exercise good neighbor policy
• Most complaints come from neighbors
• Keep thorough records
• Use good judgment
• Applications
• Stockpiling
• Train employees
• Follow the GAAMPs

26
Complaint Response

• What Happens?

27
RTF In Action

• Complaint
• Notification letter
• To farmer
• Initial inspection
• With 7 business days
• Verified/Not verified
• Verified
• Correct problem
• MMSP
• Follow up inspection

28
Right to Farm Where Weve Been, Where Were Going
29
(No Transcript)
30
FY 2004 Resource Complaints
31
FY 2004 Comparison of Complaints by Livestock Type
32
Number of Verified vs. Non-verified Complaints
33
 
34
Incentives

• Environmental
• Sound land and water stewardship
• Economic
• Efficient nutrient management
• Social
• Neighbor relations and compatibility with
  surrounding land issues
• Legal
• Nuisance protection from civil litigation

35
Questions?