Commercial Poultry
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Cost-Share Grants for Manure Incorporation and
Injection Now Available in Maryland
Reprinted from DPI Timely News March 2013
INSIDE THIS
ISSUE:
Cost Share
Grants for
Manure
Incorporation
Managing Litter
Between Flocks
1
2
Federal and
State CostSharing
Programs
3
FSCAP
4
Drinker System
Management
4
The Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) has financial assistance available to
help farmers cover the cost of injecting or incorporating manure, sludge, food waste
and other organic products into cropland. Two million dollars are available in
cost-share money to assist farmers as they begin implementing the new requirements
of Maryland’s recently revised nutrient management regulations.
Maryland’s revised nutrient management regulations took effect October 15. A major
provision requires farmers to inject or incorporate manure and other organic nutrient
sources into the soil within 48 hours of application. Farmers who incorporate or inject
all types of animal manure, food waste, sludge or other organic waste products into
cropland may apply for cost-share grants from the Department of Agriculture through
their local soil conservation districts. Participation is limited to operators who have
not used eligible equipment for incorporation or injection of manure during the past
five years. Famers who import manure and other organic nutrient sources for use on
cropland may participate. Cost-share rates for manure incorporation and injection
range from $10 to $55 an acre depending on the type of equipment or services used.
Farmers who use manure injection receive the highest reimbursement rates.
Cost-share grants for manure incorporation and injection are administered by the
Maryland Agricultural Water Quality Cost-Share Program.
All work must be completed by June 1, 2013. Farmers should visit their local soil
conservation district office as soon as possible to apply. Applications will be accepted
on a first come, first served basis and sign-up is ongoing until all funds are fully
committed. For more information, contact the Maryland Department of Agriculture at
410-841-5864.
UPCOMING EVENTS & PROGRAMS
2013 Delmarva Chicken Festival
June 21 & 22 Snow Hill, MD
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Managing Litter Between Flocks
Dr. Jennifer Timmons - University of Maryland Eastern Shore
(Reprinted from Delmarva Farmer - February 2013)
During the winter months, the manner in which litter is managed between flocks becomes even more
important. Unfortunately, litter management between flocks is often the most ignored management practice
by some poultry growers. It is important to remember that the next flock begins as soon as the previous flock
is moved out of the house. The layout period is an important time for the litter to release moisture and
ammonia and for the reduction of organisms that can cause disease.
As longer layout times are experienced, it is a good opportunity to take advantage of this time to
enhance the performance of the next flock. A longer layout can be beneficial for reducing many disease
challenges. For example, in a survey conducted by Tablante and colleagues in 1999, it was reported that
broiler farms that experienced an early respiratory disease challenge had a layout that was two days less
compared to the layout period on broiler farms that reported no history of the disease.
In a report by Malone and Johnson in 2011, it is recommended to walk through the chicken houses
soon after live haul has left the farm to observe the litter and identify areas that may have been problems
during the flock. Note the location, character and depth of caked litter through the house. This will help to
determine how deep to run the equipment when crusting-out the litter.
The authors also reported that houses with proper airflow and good drinker management will have
little cake underneath the drinker lines and no cake near the sidewalls. Proper drinker management will limit
the amount of cake under the drinker lines. Improper airflow in houses can cause caking along the sidewalls.
If a lot of caking is found down the length of the sidewall, in the brood chamber, this may be due to
poor airflow causing cold wet air to fall to the floor during brooding, condensation on concrete footers during
cold weather or inadequate litter depth. When caking is found in random spots along the sidewall, cold air is
hitting the floor in just that caked area. The authors suggest that this could be due to vents that are not closed
tightly, air leaks along the footers, loss of insulation, improperly insulated evaporative cooling pads or poor
drainage outside the house allowing water to seep inside the house.
If the litter is caked from sidewall to sidewall, proper humidity was not maintained during brooding.
This is typically from new litter, insufficient litter depth, and/or poor ventilation. Observing the depth of the
cake and where it is located in the house can be used as a tool to eliminate these issues during the next flock.
Another goal of the layout is to promote ammonia and moisture release from the litter. It is
recommended to close up houses as soon as possible after catch to preserve as much heat as possible. Using
the heat in the litter from the previous flock helps to reduce ammonia levels for the next flock. This will also
help to decrease fuel usage because less fuel will be required to pre-heat the house prior to chick placement.
It is also important to keep in mind that as litter temperature increases during the pre-heat period a second
release or purge of ammonia will occur. This second ammonia purge should be completed before litter
amendments are applied and prior to the arrival of the chicks.
There are many opinions as to the amount of ventilation needed between flocks. At the very least,
some minimum ventilation is needed during layout to remove moisture and ammonia when people are
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Federal and State Cost-Sharing Programs
for the Poultry Industry
Two major programs, the federal Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and the state Maryland
Agricultural Water Quality Cost-Share Program (MACS), have been helping Maryland farmers install water
quality improvement projects and comply with state and federal environmental requirements. Both programs
provide between 75 and 87.5 percent of the installation cost of the most common conservation practices
required in a comprehensive nutrient management plan (CNMP) developed for a poultry operation with a
Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) permit. Your local soil conservation district is the place to
contact if you are interested in participating in either of these programs.
Typical conservation practices for poultry operations that can be cost-shared by these programs include:
Access Road
Amendment for Treatment of Ag Waste (to reduce ammonia emissions in poultry houses)
Composting Facility
Critical Area Planting
Drainage Water Management
Filter Strip
Grassed Waterway
Heavy Use Area Protection
Pond
Riparian Forest Buffer
Roof Runoff Structure
Sediment Basin
Structure for Water Control
Tree and Shrub Establishment
Waste Storage Facility
Water Well
Windbreak/Shelterbelt Establishment
These are just some of the conservation practices that are available. In order to participate, a grower needs to
have a conservation plan prepared by the soil conservation district. The conservation planner will inspect the
practice after installation to ensure that it meets standards and specifications. The grower will pay their share
of the installation cost and sign an agreement to maintain the practice for a specified number of years, usually
ten years.
Maryland’s Manure Matching and Transport Program
For growers with “no-land” operations or those who generate excess manure, the Maryland Department of
Agriculture (MDA) can help you find a nearby farmer or an alternative use project that are interested in
buying excess manure. To help with the cost of transporting manure, the Manure Transport Program provides
cost-share assistance of up to $20/ton for either the farm that sends the manure or the farm that receives it.
To register for these services, contact the soil conservation district or local University of Maryland Extension
office.
Federal and State Cost-Sharing Programs for the Poultry Industry
To register for these services, contact the soil conservation district or local University of Maryland Extension
office.
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Farm Stewardship Certification and Assessment
Program (FSCAP)
The Maryland Association of Soil Conservation Districts (MASCD) administers the Farm Stewardship
Certification and Assessment Program to recognize the good conservation work that farmers and growers are
doing. This is a voluntary program that certifies a grower as an agricultural conservation steward if they are in
compliance with nutrient management requirements and have installed enough conservation practices that no
significant pollution leaves the farm and enters ditches or streams. Growers who have fully implemented their
comprehensive nutrient management plan (CNMP) and maintain good maintenance practices have probably
met the certification standard.
If you are interested in participating in the program, contact your local soil conservation district or the program
leader, Gerald Talbert, at 410-247-1973 or by email: gft@gtalbert.com . A separate mailing will be going out
to the Korean and Vietnamese poultry growers communities in Maryland. Vietnamese growers can contact
Minh Vinh at (619) 252-5199 or email him at vinhbminh@yahoo.com . Korean growers can contact Robin
Choi at (443) 523-5260 or email him at hyuntakchoi@hotmail.com. These gentlemen will serve as translators
during the review visit.
An appointment will be made with you to meet at the farm and review your CNMP. If you have met the
requirements, a 30X24 two-sided sign with signpost will be installed for you. The sign can be English on one
side and Korean or Vietnamese on the other if you prefer. You will also get a full page on the FSCAP website
that describes your operation with some photos.
FSCAP recognition is a source of pride for you, your community and the poultry industry. Its one way to show
that agriculture is doing a great job in protecting the environment and the Chesapeake Bay.
Drinker System Management
Dr. Jennifer Timmons - University of Maryland Eastern Shore
(reprinted from Delmarva Farmer - August 2012)
Adequate availability of water to birds is critical to bird health and performance. Water is an essential nutrient
in bird metabolism and nutrition, and may be considered the most vital nutrient ingested. Water makes up
between 50 to 70% of a bird’s total body weight. As a result, death due to water deprivation will occur much
quicker than death due to starvation.
Broilers consume approximately two times as much water on a weight basis as feed. There is a direct
relationship between feed and water consumption. A study conducted by Lott and coworkers in 2003 estimated
the correlation between feed and water consumption at 0.98. A correlation of 0.98 means that when water
consumption changes, 98% of the time feed consumption changes. Therefore it is important to practice a good
drinker line management program to optimize bird performance.
Enclosed drinker systems are typically used in broiler houses throughout the United States. These systems
reduce drinking water contamination from feed, litter and feces and therefore can promote bird health and
performance. However, since these systems are enclosed and water is not highly visible, a grower may be less
aware if a drinker issue arises. Maintaining a routine drinker line management program can help to prevent
some of these issues.
Drinker system management… continued
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Drinker lines should be leveled each flock. If drinker lines are not level throughout the house, air locks can
develop in the line and limit the opportunities for all birds to obtain water freely. Hills and valleys in the litter
can also cause drinker lines to be un-level and can restrict access for birds in areas where the drinker is too
high and cause wet litter and water wastage where it is too low.
Installing standpipes along with flushing the lines can remove any trapped air from the drinker line.
Researchers at the University of Georgia recommend there should be no high points between the two ends of
the drinker line and mid-line standpipes should be installed on lines that are longer than 150 feet. It is also
recommended to routinely clean standpipes between flocks so water can be easily viewed when you are in the
house.
In addition it is recommended to flush the lines every time any product is run through the drinker line. This
helps to remove residue and can limit the growth of bacteria. It also important to flush the drinker lines
between flocks since they won’t be used when the house is empty.
Routine use of drinker lines can cause bacteria and other pathogens to build up in the line over time. Therefore
it is important to sanitize the drinker lines after each flock to eliminate any bacteria that may be in the line.
Only approved products for drinker sanitation and birds consumption should be used. It is also important to
consider water quality parameters such as pH, hardness, and mineral content when selecting a water sanitizing
product as these factors can impact the efficacy of the product. For more information on water line sanitation
it is recommended to read the article Water Line Sanitation by Susan Watkins from the University of
Arkansas. This article can be found at: http://www.ca.uky.edu/poultryprofitability/Production_manual/
Chapter15_Water_and_feed_line_management/Chapter15_Water_line_sanitation.pdf
Drinker height and water pressure should also be adjusted regularly as the birds grow. It is recommended to
follow drinker lines manufacturer’s guidelines to ensure optimal bird performance. Typically on the day of
placement the drinker line should be adjusted so the nipple is eye level with the chick. Drinker lines should be
raised as the birds grow so the nipple is just above the birds head. Birds should not have to “work” to reach
the drinker. Additionally, water pressure should be increased gradually as the birds grow to allow the birds to
receive more water and meet their increased water requirement.
Water filters should also be changed regularly. Particles can build up in the filter causing the water pressure to
drop and thus can restrict water access to the birds. It is important to utilize the house water meter to monitor
daily water consumption so any issues can be detected promptly. If there is a sudden change in water intake
this may indicate a potential problem. It is important to practice a good drinker line management program to
minimize any issues that may occur with the drinker system. Everyone will agree that the sooner a drinker
system issue can be corrected the less impact it will have on bird health and performance.
Managing Litter Between Flocks… continued
working inside the chicken house. During other times of the layout period, typically fans should be run
during the hottest parts of the day. However, houses may need to be ventilated more if the cake has been
pulverized or windrowed between flocks because of higher ammonia levels released from the litter.
Crusting-out of the litter between flocks is still the most common litter management strategy used
to prepare the litter for the next flock. Other litter management techniques include pulverization and
windrowing. No matter what litter management strategy is used between flocks it is important that it is
done properly and started as soon after bird movement as possible.
When birds are out of the house, it is often the misconception that management of that house stops.
However, implementing proper litter management strategies and ventilation during the layout period often
can have beneficial results when chicks are placed back on the farm.