Assessment Tool for New or Existing Animal Feeding Operations

NM-1284, February 2005

Bridget Johnson and Ron Wiederholt
Area Specialists/Livestock Nutrient Management

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This workbook is designed to help producers evaluate their current livestock facility and identify potential impacts their facility may have on waters of the state. Initially, one must determine if the livestock feeding operation is classified as an animal feeding operation (AFO). An AFO is a lot or facility (other than aquatic animal production facility) where the following conditions are met:

• Animals have been, are, or will be stabled or confined and fed or maintained for a total of 45 days or more in any 12-month period, and
• Crops, vegetation, forage growth or post-harvest residues are not sustained in the normal growing season over any portion of the lot or facility

If your operation fits this definition, continue to Step 1 of the worksheet. You will find a table that identifies the three categories of animal feeding operations. A large, concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) is any animal feeding operation that stables or confines as many as or more than the number of animals specified in the Large CAFO column of the table in Step 1. If the facility is defined as large CAFO, the appropriate permit must be obtained from the North Dakota Department of Health by Dec. 31, 2006 and completion of either worksheet is not necessary. If the operation is defined as a medium or small AFO, continue to Step 2. Not all medium or small AFOs will require a permit. Those that do must submit the permit application to the North Dakota Department of Health by July 1, 2008.

The workbook has been developed through the efforts of the NDSU Extension Service and North Dakota Department of Health.

Step 1

Complete the table below by inserting the maximum number of each type of livestock fed/housed within a facility for 45 days or more during a 12-month period. If the facility is defined as a Medium or Small AFO, the applicable worksheet should be completed to evaluate the potential environmental impacts associated with the facility. If the facility is defined as a Large CAFO, (see definition on page 3) the appropriate permit must be obtained from the North Dakota Department of Health by Dec. 31, 2006 and completion of either worksheet is not necessary.

Step 2

Based on the definitions below, determine which worksheet best describes your livestock facility.

Complete the appropriate worksheet.

Definitions

Housed Facility — Pens or similar confinement area that is protected from the environment.

Open lot — Pens or similar confinement areas with dirt, concrete or other paved or hard surface wherein animals or poultry are substantially or entirely exposed to the outside environment except for small portions of the total confinement area affording protection by windbreaks or small shade areas.

Surface Water — For the purpose of the following worksheets, surface water is defined as any stream, lake, reservoir or pond that contains water except for infrequent periods of severe drought. This includes streams that flow only as the result of direct precipitation and snow melt. Waters completely contained on an owner's property and that do not combine or effect a junction with natural surface or underground waters are not included.

Large CAFO — Any animal feeding operation that stables or confines as many or more than the numbers of animals specified in the table of Step 1.

Housed Facility Evaluation Worksheet

Potential water quality impacts associated with the animal feeding operations

Eligibility for a "No Potential to Pollute" designation from the N.D. Department of Health

Some Medium or Small AFOs may qualify for a "No Potential to Pollute" designation from the North Dakota Department of Health (NDDH). Large CAFOs are not eligible for this designation. The final determination of a facility's eligibility for a "No Potential to Pollute" designation can be made only by NDDH personnel. However, if a Medium or Small AFO has a total score of 25 or less, the facility may qualify for a "No Potential to Pollute" designation. In such cases, the NDDH should be contacted to provide a final determination on the facility's eligibility.

Comments on management options for facility:

Open Lot Evaluation Worksheet

Potential water quality impacts associated with the animal feeding operations

Ranking	Score
High Potential	> 50
Medium Potential	25-50
Low Potential	< 25

Eligibility for a "No Potential to Pollute" designation from the N.D. Department of Health

Some Medium or Small AFOs may qualify for a "No Potential to Pollute" designation from the North Dakota Department of Health (NDDH). Large CAFOs are not eligible for this designation. The final determination of a facility's eligibility for a "No Potential to Pollute" designation can be made only by NDDH personnel. However, if a Medium or Small AFO has a total score of 25 or less, the facility may qualify for a "No Potential to Pollute" designation. In such cases, the NDDH should be contacted to provide a final determination on the facility's eligibility.

Comments on management options for facility:

For more information on this an other topics, see: www.ag.ndsu.edu

NM-1284, February 2005