AFO-CAFO  Beef

Resource Concern: Air Quality

Minimizing fugitive dust emissions at the AFO/CAFO is a method to improve the air quality both on and off-site. National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for airborne pollutants such as particulate matter (dust) further emphasize the need for minimizing fugitive dust at the feedyard. Technical and financial assistance will enable beef cattle producers to meet regulatory requirements and prevent new requirements from being enacted.

USDA-NRCS conservation practice standard Atmospheric Resource Quality Management (370) shall be a required practice in the EQIP contract. Additional conservation practices can be included in the EQIP contract after participant agrees to implement the requirements of the Atmospheric Resource Quality Management standard (370).

Eligibility

Any Commercial Beef Cattle Feeding Operations located in Texas.

To be eligible for EQIP funding, the Animal Feeding Operation (AFO)/Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) operator shall agree to be in compliance with all federal and state regulatory requirements by completion of the EQIP contract. No USDA-NRCS assistance shall be furnished on layout or construction of any conservation practice on an AFO/CAFO until all needed regulatory permits are obtained by the AFO/CAFO operator.

Priority for Funding

All Commercial Beef Cattle Feeding Operations located in Texas will be ranked together utilizing ranking criteria based on proximity to population centers and transportation facilities and the planned system for minimizing feedyard dust emissions.

Eligible Practices

• Access Road (560) - C/S
• Atmospheric Resource Quality Management (370) - I
• Diversion (362) - C/S
• Fence (386) - C/S
• Field Border (386) - C/S
• Filter Strip (393) - C/S
• Grassed Waterway (412) - C/S
• Heavy Use Area Protection (561) - C/S
• Irrigation Pit or Regulating Reservoir (552B) (storage tanks) - C/S
• Irrigation System, Sprinkler (442) - C/S
• Irrigation Water Conveyance (430) (Pipeline) - C/S
• Manure Transfer (634) - C/S
• Pasture and Hayland Planting (512) - C/S
• Pumping Plant (533) - C/S
• Sediment Basins (350) - C/S
• Terrace (600) - C/S
• Waste Storage Facility (313) - C/S
• Waste Treatment Lagoon (359) - C/S
• Waste Utilization (633) Solid and Liquid Waste - I
• Windbreak/Shelter Belt Establishment (380) - C/S

Cost share

• Limited Resource Farmer/Rancher - 90 percent
• Beginning Farmer/Rancher - 50 percent
• All Others - 50 percent

Incentives

Ranking Criteria  

5. Management Items for Atmospheric Resource Quality Management (370):

5a. Planned System for Minimizing Feedyard Pen Dust Emissions

Permanent Solid Set Sprinkler System with ARQM Level 3 - 1000
Permanent Solid Set Sprinkler System with ARQM Level 2 - 800
Permanent Solid Set Sprinkler System with ARQM Level 1 - 600

Water trucks or trailers applying water to pen surfaces with ARQM Level 3 - 500
Water trucks or trailers applying water to pen surfaces with ARQM Level 2 - 350
Water trucks or trailers applying water to pen surfaces with ARQM Level 1 - 100

ARQM Level 3 only, no water apply to pen surfaces - 400
ARQM Level 2 only, no water apply to pen surfaces - 200
ARQM Level 1 only, no water apply to pen surfaces - 0

5b. Existing or Planned Dust Treatment of Feedyard Roads, Feed mill Area, and Heavy Use Areas.

Fully Asphalt Paved 100
Partially Asphalt Paved (50 percent or less) 75
Water and/or Chemical Dust Treatment 50

1/ - Only 1 entry for this ranking criteria, either upwind or downwind, but not both.
2/ - Must use nearest affected population center or public transportation.
3/ - Measure from edge of feedlot in straight line to city (incorporated) limits or affected road to obtain distance.
4/ - Use National Climatic Data Center's (NCDC) official climate divisions for Texas to determine upwind and downwind. In NCDC climate divisions 1, 2, 5 and 6 upwind is south of a line drawn WNW-ESE through the center of town and downwind is north of the line. In NCDC divisions 3, 4, 7, 8, 9 and 10 upwind is south of a line drawn WSW-ENE line through the center of town and downwind is north of the line. A map showing counties and NCDC climate divisions is attached. This map can also be found at http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/analysis_monitoring/regional_monitoring/CLIM_DIVS/texas.gif.

ARQM Level 1 would require a feedyard to conduct one (1) manure harvests per year on all the pens annually plus follow the Atmospheric Resource Quality Management (370) standard. The beef feedyard would be required to apply all applicable criteria listed under “General Criteria applicable to All Purposes” and the “Specific Criteria Applicable to Particulate Matter Emissions” in this standard. Specific criteria are listed for both roads and confined animals. The incentive payment for ARQM Level 1 will be a nominal amount since most beef feedyards are required to conduct one (1) manure harvest annually by their state regulatory agency (TCEQ) permit.

ARQM Level 2 would require a feedyard to conduct two (2) manure harvests per year on all the pens annually plus follow the Atmospheric Resource Quality Management (370) standard. The beef feedyard would be required to apply all applicable criteria listed under “General Criteria applicable to All Purposes” and the “Specific Criteria Applicable to Particulate Matter Emissions” in this standard. Specific criteria are listed for both roads and confined animals. The incentive payment for ARQM Level 2 is higher than level 1 since it requires a higher level of management (BMP’s) for a beef feedyard than what is currently required by their state regulatory agency (TCEQ) permit.

ARQM Level 3 would require a feedyard to conduct three (3) manure harvests per year on all the pens annually plus follow the Atmospheric Resource Quality Management (370) standard. The beef feedyard would be required to apply all applicable criteria listed under “General Criteria applicable to All Purposes” and the “Specific Criteria Applicable to Particulate Matter Emissions” in this standard. Specific criteria are listed for both roads and confined animals. The incentive payment for ARQM Level 3 is significantly higher than level 2 because it requires 3 manure harvests annually.