Nutrient Management Plans Will Affect Animal Producers UNIVERSITY PARK (Centre Co.) Many of Pennsylvania’s livestock producers may be affected by the state’s Nutrient Management Act The act requires livestock operations that generate or use large amounts of animal manure to develop and implement nutrient management plans. Now is a good time for farm owners and operators to determine whether their facilities will need to comply with the act’s require ments. according to an expert in Penn State’s College of Agricul tural Sciences. “The Nutrient Management Act was passed in July, and State Con servation Commission regulations based on the act will be issued within the next two years,” said Dr. John Becker, associate profes sor of agricultural economics. “This gives producers who will be affected an opportunity to get a jump start on nutrient manage ment planning.” Under the act, animal opera tions that exceed a certain animal density per acre ate considered concentrated animal operations and must develop and implement sound nutrient management plans. “If a farm’s animal density exceeds two animal-equivalent units per acre on an annualized basis, that farm will be required to develop and implement a nutrient management plan,” Becker said. “An animal-equivalent unit equals 1,000 pounds of liveweight lives tock or poultry, regardless of how many animals comprise the unit “Of particular interest in the forthcoming regulations will be the formula developed to calculate a farm’s animal density, particu larly in a mixed livestock enterprise.” Affected operations in exis tence when the regulations become effective must prepare a nutrient management plan (NMP) within one year of the effective date of the regulations. “Opera tions that come into existence or expand after the regulations become effective must prepare a plan within three months after the facility starts operating,” Becker said. The NMP and any plan amend- Jim says, "it all starts with the right hybrid!" If you need superior yield kick and a hybrid that is highly adaptable, HT7SIO is your corn. HT7510 is grown north and south over a wide geography, with superior performance as a full season hybrid in the north or as an early hybrid in the south. Whether conventional or no-till, irrigated or not, HT7SIO is the "right hybrid"for you. The regional seed company that "stands" up to the big boys! ments must be developed by a nutrient management specialist who certifies that the plan was prepared in accordance with the requirements of the act Plans are to be submitted for review and approval to the local conservation district or to the State Conserva tion Commission if the farm is in a county that elects to not accept f administrative authority. “Within 90 days, the reviewing agency must either approve, dis approve or modify the plan,” Becker said. “The agency must notify the person submitting the plan of its action in writing, and must include a specific explana tion for disapproval or modification.” Approved plans must be fully implemented within three years. “This limit can be extended by two years if the plan requires sub stantial capital improvements,” Becker said. “But the owner must demonstrate that the improvement costs cannot be financed through available funding sources, includ ing a Nutrient Management Fund created by the act.” IM HIiVM 1-800-442-7391 The act also gives farmers a degree of protection from fines, penalties and other complaints. “If nutrient pollution results from actions that are in compliance with an NMP, the farm owner is exempt from fines and penalties under the Nutrient Management Act,” Becker said. “This insulates farmers from fines and penalties under the act itself. , “Moreover, if a person is fully and properly implementing an approved management plan, the person’s actions are to be consid ered a mitigating factor in any civil action for damages alleged to HARRISBURG (Dauphin Co.) As of March 7. citizens throughout south central Pennsyl vania were able to once again use PennDOT's toll-free hotline ser vice to report problem potholes on state roadways. 0/OINqRATuIATiOINs! Jim Justice A MAN WHO KNOWS HIS CORN wins 1993 NCGA Championship with Hytest Brand HT7510 Lancaster Fuming, Saturday, Hand 12,1*4427 Report Potholes On PennDOT Hotline be caused by actions performed under the approved plan.” Becker said that the act does not limit the power of state agencies and departments to enforce other statutes. Common law nuisance claims and gfate environmental laws such as the Clean Streams Law and the Solid Waste Manage ment Act are unaffected by adop tion of the Nutrient Management Act For more information about nutrient management, contact your county’s Penn State Cooperative Extension office. The hotline is to be available to callers from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mon day through Friday. It is to be in operation for four weeks, until April 1. The toll-free number for Pcnn- DOT’s District 8, which covets the eight-county region of south central Pennsylvania, is 1-800-932-4855. This area in cludes Adams. Cumberland, Dau phin, Franklin, Lancaster, Leb anon, Perry and York counties. According to District Engineer Baily Hoffman, the hotline assists PennDOT crews in locating prob lem potholes that oftentimes de velop overnight during this time of year. “The frequent changes from freezing cold weather to mild weather contributes to the devel opment of potholes throughout our area,” Hoffman said. “Quite a number of potholes have develop ed over the past month. The hot line will assist PennDOT crews in scheduling and making repairs.” Callers who use the hotline ser vice should provide the following information to the hotline opera tor; • the location of the pothole in terms of the county, township, city, or borough; • the traffic route, state route, or local road name where the pothole is located; and • the location of the pothole based on existing landmarks such as buildings, billboards, signs, etc. Hoffman reminds callers to call back if the telephone lines are busy, as may be the case during peak periods. Pothole hotline calls are noted and sent directly to the appropriate county maintenance office for ac tion. Normally, problem potholes are scheduled for repairs within two weeks. Last year, 440 calls were re ceived on the hotline for the Dis trict 8 region. Lebanon Holds (Contlnuwl tram Page A 26) Except for a small amount to cover the cost of the hog, the majority of the proceeds she earned from the sale of her grand champion market hog at the Farm Show went to the Farm Show Youth Scholarship Fund and to her church youth group. OUiers recognized for many years of service were the Richard and Carol Kreider family, who received a standing ovation from the crowd for their many years of dedication to organizing acUviUes, donating time and money to ensur ing that not only the 4-H program, but that the county fair and the fair grounds were in good shape.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers