Training
Module 5. Calibrating Spreader Trucks &
Temporary
Field Storage
SPREADER
TRUCK CALIBRATION
NRCS 590 requires that the
application rate/amount of poultry litter and animal manures NOT EXCEED 110% of
the rate/amount needed to meet the N recommendations of the target crop. Application rate/amount of P CAN EXCEED 110% of recommended P when
using poultry litter or animal manures for the P source BUT EACH FIELD MUST HAVE A P- INDEX
evaluation to guide P application rate.
IN EITHER CASE, APPLICATION EQUIPMENT SHOULD BE CALIBRATED TO ALLOW
THE CAWV TO STAY UNDER THE 110% LIMIT.
The CAWV must keep records
of his spreading equipment calibration.
The following Cooperative Extension Circular gives a good overview of
spreader truck calibration.
www.aces.edu/department/aawm/anr-889.pdf
This website, www.usr.sonet.net/usr/ke4rop/litter/index.htm, has the same information with more color photographs of actual
spreader truck calibration.
After you have reviewed
either or both of the above sites, let's look at how to protect temporary piles
of litter from the weather.
TEMPORARY
FIELD STORAGE
The ADEM AFO/CAFO RULE 335-6-7-.20 Plans,
Specifications, And Technical Requirements, Sub-Section (21), states,
"All
AFOs shall implement effective management procedures to the maximum extent
practicable to keep dry wastes under
roof or effective cover and to minimize manure from the facility coming
into contact with stormwater or other water or wastewater source
at any
time during production, handling/spillage,
storage, treatment, transport, or other activity prior to proper land
application which meets or exceeds NRCS technical standards and
guidelines".
NRCE
590 requires that outside piles of
poultry litter and animal manure be
covered to protect from rainfall and reduce
the likely-hood of surface or groundwater pollution from this temporary
storage of litter and manures.
NRCS
AL749, Waste Field Storage, addresses this issue.
"Waste
field storage is the temporary outside storage of solid or semi-solid animal
manure under plastic in an environmentally safe manner."
"Waste
field storage should be considered when:
1) storage is for 180 days or less,
2) storage is not normally needed on an annual basis,
3) split applications of manure/litter may be needed,
4) the quality of litter must be maintained for cattle feed, or
5) cleanout of the confinement house must be done at a time when the
waste cannot be land applied."
"The
temporary storage location for waste should be:
1) where all surface water drains from the storage area,
2) at an all-weather location,
3) at least 1 foot vertically above the 25-year floodplain,
4) at least 150 feet from any water source,
5) at least 300 feet from a down-gradient well and 150 feet
from an up-gradient well.
6) at least 300 feet from other residences or public areas.
7) on a naturally clayey soil, or
8) on a concrete pad, or
9) on a synthetic liner at least 20 mil thick that is covered
with 1 foot of soil, or
10) on a compacted clayey layer at least 1 foot thick."
"Field stored
manure/litter is to be covered with opaque plastic sheeting having a minimum
thickness of 6 mil. The sheeting is to be placed tightly over the
stack and berms, if required, and secured around the edges in a shallow
earth-filled trench. Weighted objects, which will not damage the plastic,
should be placed on the sheeting to prevent it from tearing during high
winds."
Weighting
down and anchoring the plastic covering to resist lift due to high winds is
critical to keeping the litter covered in the temporary field storage pile.
This is one example of a
covered temporary field-storage litter pile.
There may not be enough "over-the top" weights and tie-downs
to withstand high winds here.
The farmer or CAWV probably
has an eye on weather forecasts and a good idea of expected wind strengths and
has the necessary tie-downs in place.
Here is another example of
temporary field storage of a pile of litter with cover. Note the ropes and blocks going over the top
of the pile.
Here is an uncovered litter
pile. Unexpected rain could probably
move litter run-off to the creek in the woods in the picture background. This would definitely raise the eyebrows of a
visiting ADEM Field Inspector!
You have completed this
module on Equipment Calibration and Temporary Field Storage. Information from this module will be
included in the quiz that covers Modules 3-6.
Please return to the
Course Content page (click >Course Content...> on the WebCT
navigation bar at the top of this window) to take the Self-Help Test for this
Module.