MINUTES OF THE NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT ADVISORY BOARD MEETING
Room 202, Department of Agriculture Building
Harrisburg, PA
Tuesday, August 19, 1997Chair Don Bollinger called the twenty-ninth meeting of the Nutrient Management Advisory Board to order at approximately 9.32 a.m. with the following Board members, advisors and quests in attendance.
Members
Irk McConnell, Livestock Producer
Mary Lehman, Citizen, Non-farmer
Bill Ebel, Citizen, Non-farmer
Donald Bollinger, Chair, Meat Poultry Producer
Eugene Billhime, Local Government
Dennis Zimmerman, Swine Producer
Charles Ramberg, Animal Nutritionist
Bobby Jones, Agricultural Lender
Richard Mains, Dairy Producer
Larry Hepner, Academic Agronomist
Jerry Hollowell, Hydrologist
Ron Meck, Egg Poultry ProducerMembers Absent
William Brubaker, Fertilizer Industry Representative
George Robinson, Feed Industry Representative
Lamonte Garber, EnvironmentalistAgencies, Advisors, and Guests
Bryan J. McConnell, Citizen
Melanie Wertz, PA Department of Agriculture
Johan Berger, PA Department of Agriculture
Donald Robinson, Advisor, PA Association of Conservation Districts
Robert Junk, PA Farmers Union
Bill Adams, PA Farm Bureau
Christian E. Sautter, PA Department of Agriculture
Don Fiesta, DEP, Bureau of Water Quality Protection
Jay Howes, House Ag. & Rural Affairs Committee
Norm Conrad, Pennsylvania State University
Nina Huizinger, Department of Environmental Protection
Mohammad Farooq, DEP, Bureau of Water Quality Protection
Doug Beegle, Advisor, Pennsylvania State University
Bill Bowers, Natural Resources Conservation Service
Gail Phelps, DEP, Office of Chief Counsel
Paul H. Craig, Pennsylvania State University Extension
Doug Goodlander, PA Department of Agriculture
Leon Ressler, Pennsylvania State University Extension
Karl Brown, Executive Secretary, State Conservation CommissionMinutes from the August 19, 1997 NMAB Meeting
Don Bollinger called the meeting to order at approximately 9:32 a.m.
The minutes from the previous meeting were approved as mailedStatus Report of Certification Program: Melanie Wertz
Melanie summarized the handout explaining the results of the first training and examination program
statistics.Status Report on Development of Technical Manual and Sample Plan: Christian E. Sautter
The first two sections of the Technical Manual have been drafted by the Technical Manual Workgroup. The expected completion date for the first two sections is January, 1998.The Board recommends that the Technical Manual contain a section pertaining to spray irrigation.
The Sample Plan is completed and copied for distribution.
Plan Development Incentives Program (PDIP)
A statement of policy went to the State Conservation Commission and was approved at the July meeting. Cost share rates were approved by the Commission at the same July 24th meeting.Cost share rates for farmers are: less than 50 acres - maximum of $200 per operation / greater than 50 acres - $3 per acre or a maximum of $800 per operation. Cost share rates for commercial operations are: less than 50 acres - 75% of actual cost, maximum of $250 per operation / greater than 50 acres - 75% of actual cost, $4 per acre, maximum of $800.
A total of $500,000 is available for cost share the first year and CAO’s are the only operations eligible for cost share for the first year (ending October 1,1998).
The statement of policy and the cost share rates describe the administration and funding levels of the program.
Funding for Best Management Practices (BMP’s)
Penn Vest has not committed to providing funds for this program. The Agri-Link program provides $25 million to cover implementation of Act 6 and provides for only CAO’s. The interest determination is based on U.S. Bond sales and may not be lower than banks. The EQUIP program is watershed specific and cost share may be available. Don Robinson commented that EQUIP cost share money is linked to cost effectiveness and manure storage facilities probably won’t qualify.Johan Berger is currently working with Legislative staff and the Treasury to restructure the Agri-link program.
Status of Delegation Agreements with Districts / Status of Administration Manual
Mohammad Farooq
The State Conservation Commission approved level 2 delegations. Fifty eight counties are eligible to participate. Fifty five counties expressed interest. Wyoming, Clarion, and Allegheny counties declined. Of the participating counties, 33 are single county and 22 are multi county. Of the 22 multi county agreements, 7 are hosts and 15 associates.The Administration Manual draft was completed in July and open for comment until August 15th.
Staff will incorporate all of the comments received. Don Robinson inquired as to why Level 1 delegation has not been offered? Karl Brown indicated the focus is on getting Level 2 delegated and Level 1 is forthcoming.Education / Outreach Program
The program will continue to offer Background and Advanced Education courses for attaining Certification. A suggestion to include spray irrigation and biosolids into the training courses was suggested.A Tristate Group consisting of Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania utilizing Chesapeake Bay funding, will provide funding for outreach and urban nutrient management education. Dr. Landschoot, Turf Grass Specialist at Penn State, is developing materials to educate homeowners, turf grass industry personnel, and landscapers.
The Nutrient Management Education Grant Program, administered by PDA has asked conservation districts to submit education proposals for grants up to $5000. Last year 14 conservation districts completed projects for a total of $31,000. A special note to congratulate York County for doing a project which involved farmers, high school students, and environmental agency personnel.
Doug Beegle presented an update on the progress of Fact Sheets #40 and #54, both publications are now available for distribution. The fact sheets for manure export will take a couple more weeks until completion. A factsheet to provide an overview of Nutrient Management was handed over to staff for review and should be completed in a few months.
Other items updated by Doug Beegle include:
10 background work-shops are being planned by Penn State.
Penn State will continue to assist PDA staff in precertification training.
Train the Trainers workshops
Newsletter publication
2 Videos (one produced by Norm Conrad)
Pete Bohn’s position has been filled by Paul CraigSuggestions and strategies were discussed for the October 1, 1997 kickoff of the Nutrient Management Regulations. The Department of Agriculture press secretary Sally Bair was present to discuss ideas from the Board. Questions regarding who to target and how were discussed. Agricultural publications and news releases were discussed as the most promising. Other items of discussion included an event on a farm as a photo opportunity, emphasize the connection of the Nutrient Management Act to the Chesapeake Bay, and emphasize the economic feasibility of nutrient management planning. In other business, a suggestion was made to distribute signs indicating farming operations implementing approved Nutrient Management Plans.
SCC Staff to Support Conservation District: Doug Goodlander
Plans needing review by the Commission are to be submitted to the PDA. Those plans needing review would be from conservation district staff and counties without delegation agreements. PDA doesn’t have the manpower to handle all plan reviews and will be distributing reviews to DEP and possibly a third party.Don Robinson asked if SCC is going to hire any staff? Karl Brown is going to hire a Program Administrator in September or October.
CAFO Requirements for State
Dr. Hugh Archer presented to the Board the EPA’s views on CAFO’s and indicated that upcoming meetings are scheduled between the DEP and EPA to discuss the Nutrient Management Act in relation to the CAFO regulations. The possibility exists that the Nutrient Management Act may satisfy the EPA (CAFO) requirements for a Non-point source discharge.Other Business
Dennis Zimmerman announced that he will be resigning from the Board because he is no longer a swine producer.Ron Meck made a motion and Don Bollinger seconded to keep Dennis Zimmerman on the NMAB. The motion passed.
Don Bollinger adjourned the meeting