United States Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Conservation Service		 Texas Go to Accessibility Information
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AFO-CAFO - Dairy

Resource Concern: Water Quality/Air Quality

EQIP funds are made available to all dairy operators to apply practices related to waste handling and nutrient reduction to surface and ground water resources.

Highest priority for EQIP funding for FY 2007 will be the Bosque River watershed. The North Bosque River contains high concentrations of nutrients, including phosphorus, which are reducing the quality of water in the river. A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) has been developed and an implementation plan approved. EQIP funds will leverage other state and federal funds to meet the goals set by the TMDL. A primary focus in the Bosque Watershed will be on Certified Comprehensive Nutrient Management Planning (CNMP) which will provide the mechanism for dairy operations to implement corrective measures identified as necessary after an onsite assessment.

Eligibility

Available only for commercial dairy Animal Feeding Operations (AFOs), and Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs), replacement heifer AFO or CAFO operations or participants approved for the use of animal waste from dairies (solid manure, wastewater, or compost) on agricultural land.

Priority for Funding

High Priority

Existing dairy AFO or CAFO operations in the Bosque River watershed applying practices related to waste handling and nutrient reduction or non-dairy producers applying animal waste that originated from dairies in the Bosque River Watershed according to a nutrient management plan. All applications in this category will be ranked for possible funding.

Medium Priority

All existing dairy* operations in Texas other than those in the Bosque and all existing replacement heifer AFO or CAF operations in Texas including those in the Bosque a applying practices related to waste handling and nutrient reduction. Applications will be accepted but not ranked unless funds are available after funding all high priority applications.

Low Priority

Any new dairy (no established Milking herd at the time of application) AFO or CAFO operations and/or any new replacement heifer (no established herd at the time of application) AFO or CAFO operation. Applications will be accepted but not ranked unless funds are available after funding all high and medium priority applications.

* An existing dairy is a herd operation that has an established milking herd at the time of the EQIP application.

Eligible Practices

  • Waste storage facility (313)
  • Waste treatment lagoon (359)
  • Grassed Waterway (412)
  • Diversion (362)
  • Nutrient Management (590)
  • CNMP - (Eligible for Technical Assistance  only - TSP will develop, NRCS will pay Technical Assistance for development)
  • Manure Transfer (634)
  • Pumping Plant (533)
  • Brush Management (314)
  • Pasture and Hay Land Planting (512)
  • Sediment Basins (350)
  • Field Border (386)
  • Filter Strip (393)
  • Windbreak/Shelterbelt Establishment (380)
  • Fence (386)
  • Irrigation System, Sprinkler (442)
  • Roof Runoff Management (558)
  • Irrigation Water Conveyance - Pipeline (430)

Ranking Criteria

Existing Dairy Operation in Bosque River Watershed  - 1000

Existing Dairy Operation with an application to increase the size of a Waste Treatment Lagoon (359) or Waste Storage Facility (313) Limited to 500 points per application. - 500

Participants applying dairy waste which originated in the Bosque Watershed (nutrient management incentive). - 500
 
Application includes Waste Treatment Lagoon (359) or Waste Storage Facility (313). Limited to 300 points per application regardless of number applied. - 300

Existing dairy operation in the Leon River Watershed, the Little Wichita River Watershed above Lake Arrowhead, and Lake Fork Watershed. And any existing replacement heifer AFO or CAFO operation in the Bosque River Watershed. - 300

Application includes Waste Treatment Lagoon (359) or Waste Storage Facility (313). Limited to 300 points per application regardless of number applied. - 300

Existing dairy operation in the Leon River Watershed, the Little Wichita River Watershed above Lake Arrowhead, and Lake Fork Watershed. And any existing replacement heifer AFO or CAFO operation in the Bosque River Watershed - 300

Application includes manure transfer (634) (either incentive or cost share practice) limited to 100 points per application. - 100

Other Medium Priority Existing Dairy Operations - 100

New Dairy Operations or new replacement heifer operations - 50

Cost Share

Limited Resource Farmers or Ranchers - 90 percent
Beginning Farmers or Rancher - 50 percent
All Others - 50 percent

75 percent for Waste Treatment Lagoons (359) and Waste Storage Facility (313) only when the practice is identified as needed to meet new CAFO rules and is identified in a Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board Certified CNMP only in the Bosque and Leon River Watersheds. Producers may apply for and plan these practices at the 75 percent rate.

Practices will be cost shared based on the established county average cost of the practice.

Incentives

Nutrient Management (590)  
$10 per acre per year (Maximum 3 Years) Available for dairies outside the Bosque watershed.
Nutrient Management (590) $40 per acre per year (Maximum 3 Years)
Available only for producers with application fields outside the Bosque Watershed that will apply animal waste originating from dairies in the Bosque Watershed.

Manure Transfer (634)(maximum 3 years)

 This practice is to reduce nutrients applied to the application fields of the permitted dairy site. The practice calls for the removal of all collectable solids and/or slurry manure generated on the dairy. This material may be taken to compost sites, land applied on other lands not in the dairy permit, taken to a landfill, or any other state approved methods of disposing of the animal waste except applying it to land associated with the dairy operation by permit or plan. Liquids may continue to be applied to the dairy waste application fields. Liquids are defined as any animal waste that is pumped through a pipeline and applied by sprinkler irrigation equipment. Solids and/or slurry are all animal waste that does not meet the definition of liquid.


Based on herd sized
($17.50 x average milking herd=incentive)
(head = 60 pounds of milk)
Waste Utilization (633)