(CohMnMd from Pag* A 32) The result of those comments was a modification of the interim criteria, According to a summary of changes provided at the Wednes day meeting, wording was changed slightly: • So that the interim criteria are specific in stating that the criteria are only to be used by the Depart ment of Agriculture in developing a certification program; • So that the basic components of a plan identify nutrient sources, instead of “all” sources; • That it identify those nutrient sources available “to be applied,” rather than just available; that ’nit rogen “be the nutrient of primary concern” and other nutrients “will not be considered nutrients of primary concern;” • So that if the use of additional Best Management Practices (BMPs) as defined in the Act are needed in developing a nutrient management plan, that that facet of the planning can be done by a nutrient management specialist, or in cooperation with others “with recognized conservation planning expertise;” • So that the word “Ordinances” is dropped from the section head ing under the interim criteria, “V. Laws, Regulations The rea son for this was because under the Act, local nutrient management ordinances can not be passed that Poultry & Hog Contracts Available WodtHtodig. SyateHu-^ Stainless Steel Hog Feeders ■ al.-IMJJ Heating Systems Woven Wire Flooring EXISTING PRODUCERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE FOLLOWING: . EXCELLENT SUPPORT SERVICE BY CONTRACT COMPANY • EXCELLENT HEALTH & DISEASE PROGRAM SUPPORT CONTACT FARMER BOY AG...YOUR PROFESSIONAL COMPANY jfe- IP* SS~ FARMER BOY AG. ■aS\xv Poultry And inc. ■■l Hog Needs 410 E. LINCOLN AVE. MYERSTOWN. PA 17067 itr CALL TODAY 717-866-7565 jire more stringent than state law. (However, it was discussed briefly Wednesday that, while loc al ordinances may not “prohibit or in anyway regulate practices related to the storage, handling or land application of animal manure or nutrients, or to the construction, location or operation of facilities used for storage of animal manure or nutrients or practices otherwise regulated by ...” the Act, there is still the possibility of local ordi nances controlling some things which are yet to be tested, such as height of a building in the vicinity of an airfield, etc. It was said that such gray area may ultimately have to be determined through the courts.) Proposals Rejected The Advisory Board rejected by show of hands a series of proposed amendments to the interim criteria submitted by board member Wil liam Brubaker, representing the fertilizer industry, that would cre ate additional certification prog rams and levels, specifically for “Agronomic Nutrient Manage ment Planning,” and “Erosion and Sedimentation Control Planning.” Brubaker submitted the propos al under the heading of the Pen nsylvania Agronomic Products Association, and said that his con cern was with potential legal liabil ity for a nutrient planner who created an inadequate plan in the Attn TWf'AMi? vintflii. '#■ aou JfikMJrmJr Jal ,/Jfc y»M * 's > BOSS HOG • CUSTOM DESIGN • NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT PLANNING • ASSISTANCE IN PLANNING YOUR FINANCING • SERVICING BUILDING PERMITS & INFORMATION REQUIREMENTS NMAB Approves This 2-stage facility features a 50’x215’ brooder building and a 50’x520’ growout building. This Hog Finishing Facility features 2 Rooms of 1,000 head each a/cas of erosion and sedimentation. In a previous meeting, Brubaker had submitted the recently created Certified Crop Advisor Program as a template for developing a certifi cation program for nutrient man agement specialists. (As a sidenote, being a certified crop advisor doesn't requite exper tise in erosion and sedimentation.) That unrelated program was developed by a nine-member com mittee of the American Society of Agronomy, upon which Brubaker was a member. Others who also helped develop the Certified Crop Advisor Program who also are involved with the nutrient manage ment specialist program include Michael Krempasky, executive director of the State Conservation Commission, and Richard Dun can, with the state USDA Soil Conservation Service (SCS). First Look At Regs For the first time, the advisory board reviewed draft regulations for nutrient management Up until this time, the board dealt with the guidelines from which regulations would follow. In distributing the draft, Krem pasky asked that board members wait until the next meeting to start discussing minutiae, in order that major problems could be identified and recrafled by the next meeting. The oudine headings of prop- -v ,'V,} ' , .-V Farms Can Sign Up Portree Publicity ta« * • PDA To Publish Directory HARRISBURG (Dauphin Co.) -7- State Agriculture Secretary Boyd E. Wolff is looking for farmers who market their products directly to consumers to be includ ed in a new consumers’ guide to Pennsylvania farm markets sche duled for release this summer. “Many people want to get agri cultural products right from the producers, but they don’t know where to find them,” Wolff said. “This new booklet will help to make both residents and visitors aware of the many products that are available directly from our producers.” osed regulations included General Provisions, Mandatory Nutrient Management Plans, Nutrient Man agement Planning, and Animal Storage Facilities. The eight pages of proposed regulations were marked on each page with the large capitalized word, “DRAFT,” and a note stat ing that the preliminary draft was for discussion purposes only and was prepared specifically for this week’s meeting. These first proposed regulations deal with some of the basic over views of regulatory language, such as definitions, scope, purpose, general requirements of nutrient management plans, identification To be included in the directory, farmers who sell their products directly to consumers must com plete an information sheet describ ing the farm and the types of pro ducts that are sold. Penn State Cooperative Exten sion Offices in each county will be assisting with the project Farmers who sell directly to consumers and who have not re ceived a form by March 29 should contact the Pennsylvania Depan ment of Agriculture’s Division of Commodity Promotions at (717) 787-3086 to have a form mailed to them. of concentrated animal operations, and then a section on plan content The board expects to continue on the proposals in more depth at the next scheduled meeting, set for April 13, also in Room 309 of the PDA headquarters building in Harrisburg. As part of consideration for reg ulations, board members were also given a draft of animal equivalent units for livestock; a backround paper on the Pennsylvania Techni cal Guide, which is the primary reference for the Soil Conservation Service; and copies of standards for “waste storage ponds,” as con tained in the technical guide. ■ EARam^OYAGT Swine Stabling ■ /Gsms** •<m> AGRI-PLASTICS Swine Feeding & Confinement Equipment Hours: M-F 7:00-5:00; Sat. 7:30-11:30 WE I "■ ~'\l HBB SHIP |iMc*l«C«rdi VISA UPS . - J ■■■■ Check Our Warehouse Prices 2-26
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers