Manure Management on the Urban Fringe

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2 Manure Management on the Urban Fringe Section A: Traffic and Manure Hauling Farmers have told us about a number of problems that they have had managing manure on the urban fringe. This first series of questions asks you to rate the extent to which each situation listed is a problem for your operation. Please feel free to write additional comments or problems in the margins. 1) Depending on your manure storage situation, you may be hauling manure to fields every day, or only a few times a year. When you haul manure to the field, to what extent is each of the following situations a problem for you? Weekend traffic on local roads School bus schedules in morning and afternoon Commuter rush hour traffic in morning and afternoon Complaints about manure spilled on a public road Spring load restrictions forcing me onto the busier roads Traffic passing my tractor or spreader under unsafe conditions Delays caused by new stop signs, signal lights or highway construction.. problem Occasional minor problem Regular problem A major problem all the time Occasional major problem Other (please specify below)

3 2) Have you or any other members of your farm operation been involved in a traffic accident within the last five years (since 1998) while hauling manure to a field? The next five questions try to measure how traffic may influence the amount of time it takes you to haul manure to your fields. 3) First, think of the most distant field from your barn to which you hauled manure within the last year. What is the approximate travel distance (by roads and/or across fields) to that field? miles Is this field rented or owned? What is the approximate travel time (one-way) to that field? minutes 4) w, think of your most distant field from your barn to which you hauled manure five years ago (1998). What was the approximate travel distance (by roads and/or across fields) to that field? miles Is this field rented or owned? What was the approximate travel time (one-way) to that field? minutes 5) Think of the field where you distributed the most loads of manure within the last year. What is the approximate travel distance (by roads and/or across fields) to that field? miles Is this field rented or owned? What is the approximate travel time (one-way) to that field? minutes 6) w, think of the field where you distributed the most loads of manure five years ago (1998). What was the approximate travel distance (by roads and/or across fields) to that field? miles Is this field rented or owned? What was the approximate travel time (one-way) to that field? minutes

4 7) Have you had to change the routes you use to haul manure to any of your fields within the last five years due to increased traffic, new development, or construction activities? Section B: Odor and ise Complaints Livestock farmers often face complaints about odor or noise associated with placing manure on fields. The next three questions ask you to examine the extent to which odor or noise complaints have been a problem for your operation. 8) Do any of the fields where you currently spread manure have rural non-farm homes or housing units adjacent to these fields? If yes, have any of these rural non-farm homes or housing units been built within the last five years ( )? 9) Have you ever received any complaints regarding manure odors, spills, or other manure-related issues from rural non-farm residents who live in the area where you haul manure? If yes, were these complaints made directly to you, or were they made to a third party such as town officials, conservation agency staff or law enforcement officials? Complaint was made directly to me. Complaint was made to a third party who then contacted me.

5 10) A number of producers have mentioned that they often take special steps to minimize odor or noise complaints after manure is spread on a field. Which of the following activities, if any, do you use to minimize complaints from rural non-farm residents regarding manure odors or machinery noise? (Check all that apply) tify residents of houses next to fields where manure is to be spread when this spreading is scheduled to occur Incorporate manure (inject or knife into the soil) at the same time it is spread Try to incorporate the manure within 24 hours after spreading Avoid spreading manure close to field boundaries with rural non-farm neighbors Consider wind direction before deciding which field will receive manure Wait for a rainy or misty day to spread manure, if possible, to reduce odor concerns Avoid, if possible, scheduling any early morning field work Avoid spreading manure on weekends Use trees or shrubs (windbreaks) to reduce odor moving off of property Hire a custom hauler Other (please specify) Section C: Impacts of Suburban Development This next section is a little more difficult than the previous sections because we need you to try to put some numbers on the impacts of urbanization in your local area. There are no right or wrong answers for this section, just your best estimate of these impacts. 11) The questions in this section ask for an estimate of changes in costs of production in your local area. Have agricultural land rental rates changed since 1998?, rental rates have remained the same as they were in 1998., rental rates have increased approximately $ per acre compared to 1998., rental rates have decreased approximately $ per acre compared to Have agricultural land purchase prices changed since 1998?, purchase prices have remained the same as they were in 1998., purchase prices have increased approximately $ per acre compared to 1998., purchase prices have decreased approximately $ per acre compared to Have labor/time costs due to the additional time needed to haul manure changed since 1998?, labor costs associated with hauling manure have stayed the same since 1998., labor costs have increased by requiring, labor costs have decreased by requiring more hours per month. fewer hours per month.

6 12) Think of all of the fields (owned and rented) where you spread manure five years ago (1998). How much of this land is not available today due to suburban development? OR % of the fields where I spread manure in 1998 are not available today. acres where I spread manure in 1998 are not available today. 13) If development trends continue for the next five years as they have in the past five years, how much of the land where you currently spread manure do you think will not be available in 2008? (We know that this is a difficult question, but please give us your best estimate.) OR % of the fields where I spread manure this year will probably not be available in acres where I spread manure this year will probably not be available in ) More traffic and less available land due to development pressure makes distributing manure to fields more complex. Listed below are categories that describe four levels of increased traffic and development pressure. We want you to think of all the land in your current operation (rented and owned), and tell us what proportion of your land falls into each of these categories. Your answers should add up to 100 percent. % of all of my fields (rented and owned) are easy to get to with little or no problems from increased traffic or development. % of all of my fields (rented and owned) are generally easy to get to, but may be difficult at certain times of the year, week or day due to traffic or development pressure. % of all of my fields (rented and owned) require a substantial time and effort to reach due to traffic or development pressure. % of all of my fields (rented and owned) have become very difficult to get to due to traffic or development pressure. 100% = Total of all of my fields (rented and owned) 15) Within the last five years, has development pressure reduced the amount of available land in your local area to the extent that you have had to change your crop rotations in order to increase the amount of land available for spreading manure?

7 16) What is the maximum distance by roads and/or across fields that you feel you can haul manure to your fields in a profitable fashion? miles is the maximum distance I can haul manure in a profitable fashion. 17) Some local farmers have told us that as more development and rural non-farm homes move into traditional agricultural areas, rental land is harder to find and keep. People with extra land say they don t want to rent it out for extended periods because they are not sure what the land market is going to do. We want you to think of all the land you rent-in (tenant) and rent-out (landlord), and how the lease length may have changed in the last five years (i.e., since 1998). (te: You may have rented a piece of ground for six years, but the lease is renewed annually. Hence, the lease length is one year. If you don t rent-in or rent-out land, skip to Q. 18.) The average lease length of the land I rent-in this year (2003) is: The average lease length of the land I rented-in five years ago (1998) was: The average lease length of the land I rent-out this year (2003) is: The average lease length of the land I rented-out five years ago (1998) was:

8 Section D: Cooperation of Livestock and Cash Grain Farmers Sometimes livestock farms (e.g., dairy, beef, hogs) work out agreements with neighboring cash grain farms so that manure can be applied to cash grain fields. This has been described as a potential win - win situation since livestock producers gain access to lands for manure placement, and cash grain farmers benefit from the nutrients in the manure. We are trying to measure the extent to which you feel this win - win arrangement would work in your local area. 18) Think of the maximum distance that you said you could profitably haul manure (your answer to Q 16). What is your best estimate of the total cash grain acreage available within this maximum distance? ne Very little (200 acres or less) Some ( acres) A lot (401-1,200 acres) A significant amount (1,200 acres+) 19) Even if there is cash grain acreage in your area, this does not necessarily mean that neighboring cash grain farmers would want manure spread on their fields. Other livestock producers have told us that cash grain farmers may have concerns about applying manure to their cash grain fields. How important are each of the following concerns to cash grain farmers in your area about manures being applied to their fields? t a concern Minor concerns Major concerns Cash grain farmers believe that animal manure contains too many weed seeds Cash grain farmers believe that applying manure on fields in the spring causes soil compaction Cash grain farmers are concerned about odor or noise complaints Cash grain farmers believe that it is difficult to determine the amount of nutrient credits from the manure Cash grain farmers believe that it is too risky to rely on manure nutrient credits in a cold, wet spring Other (please specify below)

9 Section E: Strategies for Surviving on the Urban Fringe Some farmers have told us about different strategies that they use to address the pressures of suburbanization. We are interested in whether or not you have begun using any of these strategies within the last 5 years. 20) Strategy: Raise young stock at a more distant location Have you changed to raising your young or replacement stock at a more distant location from your main farm?, I have never used this strategy. (Skip to Q. 21.), I use this strategy, but started using it more than 5 years ago. (Skip to Q. 21.), I have started using this strategy within the last five years. (Check all of the reasons that best explain your use of this strategy.) I do this because I want to keep the number of animal units on the home farm below regulatory limits. I do this because it is easier to find land for manure placement at this other location. I do this because the costs, especially for land, is more reasonable at this distant location. I do this because this other location is more suitable for raising young or replacement stock. Other (please specify) 21) Strategy: Increase or add manure storage capacity Have you added or increased your manure storage capacity?, I have never used this strategy. (Skip to Q. 22.), I use this strategy, but started using it more than 5 years ago. (Skip to Q. 22.), I have started using this strategy within the last five years. (Check all of the reasons that best explain your use of this strategy.) I increased storage capacity to give myself more flexibility to spread manure during weekdays or when traffic is a problem. I increased storage capacity to give myself more flexibility on where and when I apply manure in order to reduce odor complaints. I increased storage capacity because I plan on expanding my herd size. I increased storage capacity to give myself more flexibility until I have the time to haul it to more distant fields. Other (please specify)

10 22) Strategy: Incorporate (inject or knife) manure into soil Have you changed to spreading manure on the surface to incorporating (injecting or knifing) it into the soil?, I have never used this strategy. (Skip to Q. 23.), I use this strategy, but started using it more than 5 years ago. (Skip to Q. 23.), I have started using this strategy within the last five years. (Check all of the reasons that best explain your use of this strategy.) I have started incorporating manure to reduce the chances of odor complaints. I have started incorporating manure to reduce the chances of manure runoff, or manure washing off my fields into neighboring areas. I have started incorporating manure in order to better credit the nutrients within the manure. I have started incorporating manure because this is the way my custom manure hauler does it. Other (please specify) 23) Strategy: Employ professional manure haulers Have you hired professionals (e.g., custom haulers) to distribute your manure?, I have never used this strategy. (Skip to Q. 24.), I use this strategy, but started using it more than 5 years ago. (Skip to Q. 24.), I have started using this strategy within the last five years. (Check all of the reasons that best explain your use of this strategy.) It is more cost-effective for professionals to deal with traffic problems. Custom haulers are better able to meet the requirements of nutrient management plans. Custom haulers can do it in a way that minimizes odor or noise complaints. Other (please specify)

11 24) As development moves into traditionally agricultural areas, it becomes more and more difficult to find land to rent or buy. How often do you use each of the following sources in your efforts to find land? Family and kin networks in the local area Crop consultants Other producers or farm families Agricultural professionals such as those found at farm supply centers Visits with neighbors at local social organizations such as churches or schools Developers or real estate agents Other (please specify below) Do not use Use occasionally Use on a regular basis Section F: Basic Farm Facts This last section asks a few basic questions about the characteristics of your farm. We are trying to determine if development pressures affect different types of farms in different ways. 25) How many acres (rented and owned) are in your farm operation this year (2003)? acres are operated in Of these acres, how many are rented (cash rent or crop share) in 2003? acres are rented in ) How many fields (rented and owned) are in your farm operation this year (2003)? fields are operated in ) How many acres (rented and owned) were in your farm operation in 1998? acres were operated in Of these acres, how many were rented (cash rent or crop share) in 1998? acres were rented in 1998.

12 28) To the best of your recollection, how many fields (rented and owned) were in your farm operation in 1998? fields were operated in ) On average for 2003, how many animals will be on your farm? (If you operate more than one farm, please provide animal numbers only for the farm closest to the Madison/Middleton suburban area. Leave blank if categories do not apply.) Dairy cattle, including heifers and young stock: Average herd size will be animals. Beef cattle, including young stock: Average herd size will be Hogs: Average herd size will be animals. animals. 30) On average for 1998, how many animals were on your farm? Dairy cattle, including heifers and young stock: Average herd size was animals. Beef cattle, including young stock: Average herd size was animals. 31) What changes in your farming operation are you planning over the next 5 years? Stop or discontinue Dairy Livestock Corn or soybeans Forage Decrease change Start or increase 32) These last few questions ask about the manure storage facilities that you have on your farm. Livestock farms are usually classified according to one of three basic categories of manure storage. Which of the following best fits your situation? (Please check one.) All manure is stored in a structure for later placement on fields. Manure is hauled to fields on a daily or regular basis. I use a combination of storage and regular hauling.

13 33) Which of the following best describes the manure storage system you use on your farm? (If you do not have a storage system, please skip to Q. 35.) Pile solid manure on concrete pad Store manure in a concrete wall pit Hold manure in a slurry system Store liquid manure in an above-ground tank Store manure in a clay-lined storage basin (Other, please describe) 34) What is the approximate capacity of your storage structure in tons, bushels, gallons or days? (Just fill in one number.) tons, or bushels, or gallons, or days 35) Can you suggest any groups, organizations, agencies, or public officials that should know about the results of this survey? (List below.) Would you like to receive a summary of the results of this survey? 36) We know that many producers in this area have very interesting stories to tell about how suburbanization and development have impacted their farm operation. We are interested in scheduling a visit to your farm to hear these stories, and to learn more about how development has influenced your ability to manage manure. Since your time is valuable, we can pay a small honorarium for your cooperation with such a visit. We expect this visit would last no more than one hour, and can schedule it around milking time, barn or field activities. Would you be willing to participate in such a farm visit?, please phone me at, do not call me to schedule a farm visit. to schedule a farm visit.