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Newly developed regulations from the EPA aim to help reduce the amount of water pollution which can result from large livestock operations. Runoff from these operations can enter water bodies when poor maintenance of waste lagoons, improper storage of animal waste, or excessive rainfall results in spills or leaks of manure-laden water. Over-application of manure to cropland is another source of animal waste runoff.


What are AFO or CAFO operations?

AFOs are agricultural operations with animals housed and raised in confined situations where feed is brought to the animals rather than the animals grazing or seeking feed in pastures. AFOs generally congregate animals, feed, manure, dead animals and production operations on a small land area. AFOs that meet the regulatory definition of a CAFO may be subject to regulation under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting program. The AFO program ensures that AFO and CAFO wastes are managed to minimize environmental and public health effects.

A facility is an AFO if animals are stabled/confined or fed/maintained for 45 days or more within any 12-month period, and the facility does not produce crops, vegetation or forage growth.

A CAFO is an AFO that:

• Has more than 1,000 animal units (AU), or
• Has 301 to 1,000 AU and wastes are discharged through a man-made conveyance or directly into US waters, or
• Authorities designate on a case-by-case basis

CAFO programs in First Pioneer's six-state lending territory:

Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire,
New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island

Connecticut

• Connecticut is developing a general permit for CAFOs, and discussing a cost-benefit analysis to determine the permit's effect on Connecticut agriculture.
• The state has approximately 60 to 80 AFOs, with four farms of more than 700 cattle and two main concentrations of poultry production facilities.
• The Natural Resource Conservation Service identified water bodies throughout the state — and some as "priority areas" that will receive extra attention needed to assure water quality.
  

For more specific information, contact your local Soil and Water Conservation Districts or Farm Service Agency. Or visit the following Web sites:

• http://www.state.ct.us/doag/ (Connecticut Department of Agriculture)
• http://www.dep.state.ct.us/ (Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection)

Massachusetts and New Hampshire

• The United States Environmental Protection Agency, Region 1, headquartered in Boston, Mass will issue General CAFO Permits for both states.
• The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) will provide farmers with technical assistance and certify all nutrient management plans.

New Jersey

• New Jersey runs a voluntary program, and encourages farms to develop nutrient management plans.
• Only farms that have been cited for waste discharge into a body of water must develop and implement a nutrient management plan and farms applying for certain funding programs.
• New Jersey officials are developing a General CAFO Permit. No specific dates have been identified for implementation yet.
• The NJ Department of Environmental Protection is prioritizing local water bodies and watersheds to promote water quality.

For more information, call your local USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service office or your Soil and Water Conservation District. Or visit the New Jersey DEP Web site at http://www.state.nj.us/dep/watershedmgt/wmp_rule_toc.htm.

New York

• Key dates for CAFO compliance process:
  
  • Notices of intent had to be submitted to the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation by December, 1999. Farms that do not meet the AFO threshold but are considering expansion to more than 300 cows must submit a notice of intent 30 days prior to expansion, and have 18 months to certify a nutrient management plan.
  • Nutrient management plans are scheduled for completion between June and December 2001. New dairy facilities meeting the 300-cow threshold must certify and implement a nutrient management plan prior to commencement of facility operations.
  • All plans are to be implemented by December 2004.
• For a list of certified planners who can help develop Nutrient Management Plans, stop by:
  http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dow/cafohome.html.

Rhode Island
The Rhode Island Division of Agriculture reviews the potential impact on water quality due to runoff from concentrated animal operations, with help from the Natural Resource Conservation Service.

For information on Rhode Island's water planning procedures, visit: http://www.state.ri.us/dem/programs/bnatres/agricult/index.htm.

For more information, visit the U.S. Department of Environmental Protection's Web site at http://www.epa.gov/npdes/afo/.

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