Nutrient Plan Reviewers Hone Skills (Continued from Page 10) Workshop participants from conservations dis tricts across Pennsylvania reviewed an actual nu trient management plan to identify inconsistencies, incomplete information, and other flaws in the plan. The detailed exercise was part of the process of learning hoVv to make sure livestock producers with concentrated livestock operations submit final plans that are complete and accurate. “Some of these.plans take three or four revisions before they’re ready to present to the board,” Good lander said. After a nutrient management plan is first submit ted, reviewers have 90 days to work with the pro ducer to ensure the plan is ready. According to Sautter, nutrient management plan ning is an ongoing process. “It is constantly being refined,” he said. “It’s the science of it that changes.” Reviewers must also take orientation and plan writing workshops and pass an environmental knowledge examination in order to be provisionally certified. After satisfactorily reviewing two nutrient management plans, they receive full certification. Soil fertility and manure management workshops Engineer Certified Plans & Inspections Timber Tech Engineering, Inc. 22 Denver Road, Suite B 2 Denver, PA 17517 Phone - 717-335-2750 FAX - 717-335-2735 New Reinforced Concrete Manure Containment Structures Structural Enqineering Service Our engineering services include the structural design of building components and com plete building systems. We provide engineer certified plans and inspection services for manure containment structures. We also offer structural design of foundation systems, roof systems, concrete, masonry and steel design. Visit our web site: www.timbertecheng.com or E-mail us: trr@timbertecheng.com Ac Engineering Service Our agricultural engineering services include the design of livestock confinement housing, site planning, manure handling systems, CAFO and NPDES permits. Today’s agricultural building systems must be designed to provide the highest amount of production capable per square foot of building cost. An engineer design will help you optimize your next building project are also “highly recommended,” Sautter said. Pennsylvania’s Nutrient Management Act (NMA) is in the process of being revised by the SCC, along with the input of a state nutrient management advisory board consisting of farmers, agribusi nessoersons, conservation planners, scientists, and representatives of state agencies, including the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Pro tection, Final draft revisions are expected to be ready for legislative consideration by early in 2004, according to Goodlander. Key changes proposed in the NMA draft include incorporating a phosphorus index (P-index), requir ing verification of conservation plans prior to nu trient management plan approval, certification of commercial manure exporters, and additional re strictions on manure storage and application. Concerning phosphorus-based nutrient manage ment, an initial review of about 500 fields on 11 farms (with both low and high concentrations of livestock) in the state showed about 20 percent of the fields will require phosphorus management, ac cording to Goodlander. Free Stall Barn
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