Purdue News
Purdue News
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March 17, 2004 Purdue videoconference explains new CAFO permit ruleWEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Indiana farmers will have the opportunity to learn about the new permit rule for concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFO) during a March 25 videoconference organized by Purdue University. CAFO permit laws were recently revised, and this event will explain the rule changes. The videoconference will allow more than 500 Indiana farmers affected by the new permit rule to question Purdue educators and representatives from the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM). "We are hoping this videoconference will help farmers better understand what is expected of them," said Don Jones, Purdue Extension livestock housing and manure management specialist. Many farmers may find the new rule hard to understand and difficult to comply with, he said. The new rule, set forth by the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, requires concentrated animal feeding operations to obtain a permit from IDEM. The permit program is intended to ensure that water supplies are not contaminated by sources potentially having direct surface discharge of manure. "The biggest implication of this new rule is the amount of paperwork," Jones said. "Farmers affected by the new rule will need to keep daily, weekly, monthly and seasonal records about the handling, storing and land application of manure on their farms." At the start of the videoconference, IDEM representatives will discuss the new CAFO regulations. Next, the conference will cover devising the soil conservation plan needed by concentrated animal feeding operations. Purdue educators will then provide an overview of required recordkeeping. Lastly, local facilitators at the video sites will lead attendees through a more detailed look at the records that must be kept. At each videoconference site, farmers will get a notebook of information about the new rule, a copy of the record forms and copies of the visuals used by the presenters. Farmers are asked to contact the location where they plan to view the conference by March 23 to assure enough space and notebooks for those in attendance. The conference begins at 7 p.m. EST and may be viewed at these locations: • Purdue Extension Office, Decatur County, Greensburg. • Jay County Public Library, Portland. • Pulaski County Learning Network PACE Building, Winamac. • Purdue Extension Office, Clinton County, Frankfort. • Purdue University, Stewart Center, Room 209, West Lafayette. • Whitley County Courthouse Annex, Columbia City. • Martin County Learning Center, Loogootee. • Purdue Extension Office, Harrison County, Corydon. In Indiana, a farm is considered a confined feeding operation when it includes at least 300 cattle, 600 swine or sheep, or 30,000 foul. For additional information, contact Jones at (765) 494-1178, jonesd@purdue.edu. Writer: Molly Brock, (765) 494-9558, brockml@purdue.edu Source: Don Jones, (765) 494-1178, jonesd@purdue.edu Ag Communications: (765) 494-2722; Beth Forbes, bforbes@aes.purdue.edu Related Web sites:
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