|
There may be some confusion about who is required
to file a manure management plan with the Iowa DNR and the county
board of supervisors. More specifically, much of the confusion
appears to be over the proper way to determine the animal capacity
of a confinement operation.
A manure management plan is required for a
confinement feeding operation with formed manure storage and a
capacity of more than 500 animal units (1,250 head of swine weighing
more than 55 pounds or 5,000 head of swine weighing 15 to 55 pounds)
if the operation was constructed or expanded after May 31, 1985.
As set by DNR rules, animal capacity is the
maximum number of animals that will be confined at any one time.
Animal capacity is not determined by the dimensions of the building.
Thus, even though a confinement operation with concrete manure
storage could possibly hold more than 1,250 head weighing more
than 55 pounds, if the operation is never stocked with more than
that number an MMP is not required.
Several key points to remember are: (1) More
than 1,250 pigs may be placed in a finishing operation as long
as there are no more than 1,250 head on site when the pigs reach
55 pounds. For example, a wean-to-finish operation may be double-stocked
with weaned pigs if there are no more than 1,250 head on site
when they reach 55 pounds; (2) The operation's capacity may change
over time. If the stocking rate will be increased to more than
500 animal units without any new construction, a manure management
plan must be filed with the DNR and the county before the increase;
and (3) Pigs in open lots are not included in the calculation
of confinement animal capacity.
If anyone has questions, please call the IPPA
at 800-372-7675.
|