The primary focus of this project is to facilitate the development and implementation of an education, training, and demonstration program to improve the understanding of environmental protection principles by manure/compost haulers, equipment operators, certified crop advisors (CCAs), and crop producers. The project will focus on two specific areas and the area generally described as the Texas High Plains – the Amarillo and Lubbock regions of Texas:
The project will design and develop an environmental training curriculum, in both English and Spanish, tailored to the current business relationship that exists between feedyard, manure/compost companies and crop producers. The curriculum will outline key concepts for environmental management and water quality protection. A survey will be developed and administered at the initiation of the project to assess the current level of environmental knowledge of custom manure/compost haulers and the extent of training provided to equipment operators. A summary of the survey results will be used as guidance for the curriculum. Also, a project advisory group will be organized, consisting of CAFO operators, manure and compost haulers, livestock industry organizations (i.e., Texas Farm Bureau (TFB), Texas Association of Dairymen (TAD), Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA), commodity organizations (i.e., Corn Producers Association of Texas, Plains Cotton Growers, Texas Grain Sorghum Producers Board), AgriLife Extension, TSSWCB, SWCDs, Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA), U.S. Department of Agriculture- Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS), CCAs and crop producers, stakeholders of the pilot watersheds (Buck Creek and Sweetwater Creek) and demonstration site cooperators, to design and develop the environmental training curriculum and prioritize the selection of project demonstration sites.
Three to four demonstration sites will be established to train custom manure hauler owners, equipment operators, certified crop advisors and crop producers on the principles of environmental management for land application of manure. A variety of BMPs are available to consider when applying manure and compost to the land. BMP recommendations will be compiled and discussed with manure/compost company owners and equipment operators at project field days workshops. All educational materials will be made available through websites.
The project will notify custom manure haulers of the availability of on-site technical assistance and field training for owners and operators, and encourage implementation of USDA-NRCS conservation practices by landowners through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). In addition, TCFA, with assistance from local SWCDs and the TSSWCB Hale Center Regional Office, will promote the availability of technical assistance and encourage the development and implementation of TSSWCB-certified Water Quality Management Plans (WQMPs). A WQMP is a site-specific plan developed through and approved by SWCDs which includes appropriate land treatment practices, production practices, management measures, and technologies that prevent and abate agricultural and silvicultural nonpoint source pollution. TCFA and AgriLife Extension will explore options for future development of a certification program for manure and compost haulers based on the outcomes of the training and demonstration efforts of this project.