For immediate release: Jan. 26, 2012 1. Cold weather kicks in limits on winter manure application for confinements 2. Missouri River Authority meets Feb. 3 in Des Moines COLD WEATHER KICKS IN LIMITS ON WINTER MANURE APPLICATION FOR CONFINEMENTS MEDIA CONTACTS: Ken Hessenius at 712-262-4177 or [log in to unmask] or Gene Tinker at 563-927-2640 or [log in to unmask] DES MOINES – Most producers recognize that winter manure application can result in loss of important nutrients and cause runoff problems. State law, however, actually prohibits some producers from applying liquid manure on snow-covered ground after Dec. 21 and frozen ground after Feb. 1 unless it’s an emergency. The law does not apply to manure from open feedlots or dry manure. It applies to confinement (totally roofed) facilities with liquid manure that have 500 or more animal units. Generally, 500 animal units would be 1,250 finishing hogs; 5,000 nursery pigs; 500 steers, immature dairy cows or other cattle; or 357 mature dairy cows. “We’ve been lucky this year having very little snow on the ground,” said Ken Hessenius, supervisor of the DNR Spencer field office. “But now that we have a little snow, we want to remind all livestock and poultry producers that they need to protect water and prevent pollution as they land apply manure.” In addition, the law limits liquid manure application from confinements from Dec. 21 to April 1 if the ground is snow-covered. If manure can be injected or incorporated, it can be land applied during this time. Snow-covered ground is defined as soil having one inch or more of snow cover or one-half inch or more of ice cover. Starting Feb. 1, confinement producers with 500 or more animal units will also be limited to emergencies if applying liquid manure on frozen ground. Under those conditions, producers can apply only in emergency situations, defined in the law as unforeseen circumstances beyond the control of the producer such as natural disaster, unusual weather conditions, or equipment or structural failure. Confinement producers must call the local DNR field office before they apply to report emergency applications. They can apply manure only to fields identified for emergency application in their manure management plans that have a Phosphorus Index of 2 or less. DNR field specialists will ask several questions about the application area and amount. They may have ideas or suggestions for producers who have questions about a specific site or risks. Field office locations and phone numbers are available at www.iowadnr.gov/InsideDNR/DNRStaffOffices/EnvironmentalFieldOffices.aspx . Hessenius added that if the manure is surface applied, producers and commercial applicators need to observe the separation distances, generally applying at least: a.. 750 feet from buildings such as residences, businesses and schools; b.. 200 feet from environmentally sensitive areas such as a drinking water well, lakes, rivers, streams or ag drainage wells; and c.. 800 feet from high quality water resources. “The research shows that the later in the season and the closer to spring snowmelt that you apply, the greater the risk that manure-laden runoff will reach a stream,” he said. He recommends that producers who might run out of storage this winter consider emergency application early in the winter, not late. “Most important, they should use good common sense, applying on flat land with the least snow cover, located far from a stream,” Hessenius said. More information on the protected areas is available at www.iowadnr.gov/portals/idnr/uploads/afo/sepdstb4.pdf?amp;tabid=1465. Recommendations from the Iowa Manure Management Action Group about applying manure in winter are available at http://www.agronext.iastate.edu/immag/pubs/imms/vol3.pdf. # # # MISSOURI RIVER AUTHORITY MEETS FEB. 3 IN DES MOINES MEDIA CONTACT: Sharon Tahtinen at 515-281-7066 or [log in to unmask] DES MOINES – An update on flooding in western Iowa will be the highlight of the next meeting of the State Interagency Missouri River Authority (SIMRA) Feb. 3 in Des Moines. The authority is an interagency, interstate group that makes recommendations on policies affecting the Missouri River. The group will meet from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at the Iowa Utilities Board office, 1375 E. Court Avenue. The meeting is open to the public. Also on the agenda, the group will discuss current and potential hydrologist roles and responsibilities within the state. The complete agenda is available below and on the state public meetings calendar at http://www.iowa.gov/state/main/pmc/pmc.php under DNR: · Welcome and Introductions · Approve Agenda · Approve Summary from Oct. 26, 2011, Meeting · Discussion on Hydrologist Roles/Responsibilities within the state · Updates: o Levee Workgroup – Tom Oswald o Homeland Security Flood Task Force – Tom Oswald o Floodplain Management – Lori McDaniel o COE Activities – Missouri River – Ryan Buckley (by phone) o Other · Public Comment · Next Meeting and Agenda Items · Adjourn Interested people can attend the meeting on a conference call by dialing 866-685-1580. Then, they should follow the prompts, typing in the conference code of 2816326 followed by the pound (#) sign. Representatives on the Missouri River Authority include the Governor's office; the Secretary of Agriculture; the Chair of the Utilities Board; the Economic Development Authority and the directors of the departments of natural resources and transportation or their designees. -30- please send a blank e-mail to: [log in to unmask] - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To unsubscribe from the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to: [log in to unmask] Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp To view the Sierra Club List Terms & Conditions, see: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/terms.asp