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, http://home.centurytel.net/ke4rop/litter/ 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.