| Sensitive Area | Act 38 Nutrient Management Plans | Act 38 Nutrient Balance Sheets | DEP Manure Management Plans | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surface Waters | Stream, Lake, Pond | 100 feet, or 35 feet with a permanent vegetative buffer | 150 feet, or 100 feet with a P Index evaluation of the field, or 35 feet with a permanent vegetative buffer and with a P Index evaluation of the field | 100 feet, or 50 feet, if current soil test <200 ppm P, no-till practices are used, and cover crops are planted when residue is removed, or 35 feet with a permanent vegetative buffer |
| Ground Waters | Existing Open Sinkhole | 100 feet, or 35 feet with a permanent vegetative buffer | 100 feet, or 35 feet with a permanent vegetative buffer | 100 feet |
| Private Drinking Well or Spring (active wells) | 100 feet | 100 feet | 100 feet | |
| Public Water Well | 100 feet unless wellhead authority requires larger setback | 100 feet unless wellhead authority requires larger setback | 100 feet unless wellhead authority requires larger setback | |
| Fall | Fall Application | Minimum of 25% ground cover/residue or an established cover crop, or Inject or incorporate manure within 5 days with minimum soil disturbance | Minimum of 25% ground cover/residue or an established cover crop, or Inject or incorporate manure within 5 days with minimum soil disturbance | No specific requirements. Strongly encouraged to follow the specific practices outlined for Act 38. |
| Winter | Winter Application For each type of plan, fields receiving winter applications must be listed in the plan, and winter is defined as:
See "Maximum Rates" guidance below. | All setbacks above with the following additions: 100 feet from above-ground inlet to agricultural drainage system where surface flow is toward the inlet 100 feet from wetland identified on National Wetlands Inventory if that wetland is within a 100 year floodplain of an Exceptional Value stream and surface flow is toward the wetland Minimum of 25% ground cover/residue or an established cover crop | All setbacks above with the following additions: 100 feet from above-ground inlet to agricultural drainage system where surface flow is toward the inlet 100 feet from wetland identified on National Wetlands Inventory if that wetland is within a 100 year floodplain of an Exceptional Value stream and surface flow is toward the wetland Minimum of 25% ground cover/residue or an established cover crop | All setbacks above with the following additions: 100 feet from stream, lake or pond regardless of conservation practices (no 35 feet or 50 feet options). 100 feet from above-ground inlet to agricultural drainage system where surface flow is toward the inlet No application on slopes greater than 15%. (A, B, C slopes acceptable) Minimum of 25% ground cover/residue or an established cover crop |
| Channels | Within the channel of a non-vegetated concentrated water flow area such as a swale, gully, or ditch. | No specific requirements. * Application in these high-risk areas is strongly discouraged. | No specific requirements. * Application in these high-risk areas is strongly discouraged. | Never |
| Maximum Rates | Maximum Application Amount during one pass (rates may be higher but ground must dry between passes). | 9,000 gal/acre liquid manure | 9,000 gal/acre liquid manure | 9,000 gal/acre liquid manure Maximum Total Winter Rates
|
| Infield Manure Stacking | Manure stacks that are placed in or near crop fields for an extended period of time. Does not apply to:
| Stacked manure must be land applied within 120 days or by the next growing season, whichever is less or covered with an impermeable cover within 3 weeks of stacking. Manure stacks should not be located within 100 feet of streams, lakes, ponds, and active water wells. Manure stacks should not be located within water concentration flow areas or on soils where the seasonal high water table is less than 3 feet. Uncovered manure stacks should be cone or windrow shaped and not be located on excessively drained soils, above subsurface drain tiles, on slopes greater than 8%, and, when on slopes between 3 and 8% no more than 100 feet, from the top of the slope. Manure stack sites must be rotated so that no site is used more than once every 4 years. | Stacked manure must be land applied within 120 days or by the next growing season, whichever is less or covered with an impermeable cover within 3 weeks of stacking. Manure stacks should not be located within 100 feet of streams, lakes, ponds, and active water wells. Manure stacks should not be located within water concentration flow areas or on soils where the seasonal high water table is less than 3 feet. Uncovered manure stacks should be cone or windrow shaped and not be located on excessively drained soils, above subsurface drain tiles, on slopes greater than 8%, and, when on slopes between 3 and 8% no more than 100 feet, from the top of the slope. Manure stack sites must be rotated so that no site is used more than once every 4 years. | Manure to be stacked longer than 120 days must be covered with an impermeable cover or stacked on a properly improved stacking pad. Manure stacks should not be located within 100 feet of streams, lakes, ponds, and active water wells. Manure stacks should not be located in water concentration flow areas, on slopes greater than 8%, and no more than 100 feet from the top of the slope, and where possible, direct upslope water away from the stacking area. Manure stacks must be dry enough to maintain a stack height of at least 4 feet. Manure stack sites must be rotated so that no site is used every year. |
Note: All setbacks and infield manure stacking sites must be accurately delineated on the farm map as required by each plan type.
October 2014
