Barnyard Runoff Control: Planning, Design,

Construction, DocumentationPeter Wright PE

Agricultural EngineerPRO-DAIRY

LCBP, NEIWPCC, and EPA are funding partners

1

Vermont RAP

Section 6. Required Agricultural Practices; Conditions, Restrictions, and Operating Standards

6.01 Dischargesa) Farms shall not create any discharge of agricultural wastes to

surface waters of the State through a discrete conveyance such as, but not limited to, a pipe, ditch, or conduit without a permit from the Secretary of ANR.

b) Production areas, barnyards, animal holding or feedlot areas, manure storage areas, and feed storage areas shall utilize runoff and leachate collection systems, diversion, or other management strategies in order to prevent the discharge of agricultural wastes to surface water or groundwater.

NRCS Standards

eFOTG http://efotg.nrcs.usda.gov/StandardsStatements of WorkGuidelinesSpecificationsO&M

NRCS Standards

Filter Strip Standard (VT 393) Heavy Use Area Protection Standard (VT 561) Roofs and Covers (NAT 367)Roof Runoff Structure (VT 558) Waste Treatment (VT 629)Ag Waste Management Supplement

Milking Wastewater Infiltration System

https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/nrcs142p2_010237.pdf

NRCS O&M

OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE PLANFORWASTE TREATMENT - MILKHOUSE WASTEWATER INFILTRATION AREA

OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE PLANFORHEAVY USE AREA PROTECTION

Vermont Farm*A*Syst

Worksheet #10Assessing the Risk of Groundwater Contamination fromMilkhouse Wastewater Treatment

Worksheet #8Assessing the Risk of Groundwater Contamination fromBarn Yard Management

Concentrated Sources

Waste Wash waterBarnyard runoffSilage Leachate

Estimated BOD LB/yr

05000

100001500020000250003000035000400004500050000

Milking

Cente

r Was

teSila

ge Le

achate

Barnya

rd Run

offDomesti

c Was

te

Estimated N LB/yr

0500

10001500200025003000350040004500

Milking

Cente

r Was

teSila

ge Le

achate

Barnya

rd Run

offDomesti

c Was

te

Estimated P LB/yr

050

100150200250300350400450500

Milking

Cente

r Was

teSila

ge Le

achate

Barnya

rd Run

offDomesti

c Was

te

Concentrated Sources

Amounts and concentrations varydaily seasonallyfrom farm to farm

They can be ManagedWhen Rain Driven the impact is less

dilutednot observed

N PMilking Center 400 ppm 60 ppmSilage Leachate 4,400 500Barnyard 1,000 200

Manure 5,600 900

Domestic Waste 30 7

Concentrations

Annual Load from Concentrated Sources

N PMilking Center 3,000 lb 30 lbSilage Leachate 3,900 440Barnyard 700 150

Manure 31,600 5,000

Domestic Waste 70 22

Concentrated Sources

Pollution is Perception Total load from manure spreading

But:Concentrated sources = point sources

Concentrated Sources will be closely examined

Conclusions

Concentrated sources need to be controlledPrevention is keyLook for low cost alternatives to treatment

Prevention

EliminateReduceReuse

Barnyards?

Time spent out of barn vs size

cows

0%

5%10%15%20%

25%30%35%40%

45%50%

0 200 400 600 800 1,000 1,200

Barnyards

EliminateReduce the sizeReduce the runoff

Exclude outside waterPavement increases runoff

Vital to control runoff flowProtect Groundwater

NRCS Standard

Source ControlScrape, time in barnyard, waterers

Solid removalDaily - Weekly

Size: 50 ft2/Animal Unit

Location: Outside 25 year floodplain200 ft from wells and potable water

Abuse Areas

Purpose?Increased loadingFences can be movedImage

Barnyards

Sized correctlyClean surface water divertedPaved and curbedRunoff controlled

Roof Runoff Structure

Ice and snowFastenersBelow projected roof line

CapacityGutter sizeDownspout location and size

Animal Protection

Outlet

O&M

Clean Water Exclusion

DiversionCurbRoof runoff

Roof

Ground GutterGravel Trench20% of Volume as storageCPP or PVC 2 ft underOutlet

Clean out

Paved and Curbed

Roll Curbs?

Buck Wall

Surface treatment

Barnyard Runoff Storage

Wetland Treatment

Constructed, not naturalStorage for winterSized properlyControlled outlet

Vegetated Filter Strip

Control solidsNo continuous liquid flowWill reduce BOD and total PhosphorusNot as effective on soluble nutrients without infiltration Won’t treat concentrated flows

Vegetated filter strip to treat BOTH: barnyard runoff and milkhouse wastewater

VFS has TwoDischarge Points

Milkhouse wastewater P concentrations

Avg - 16 mg/L, Range from 10 to 21 mg/L

4-5 hour

Flow moves to outside of gravel trench and spreader board

Discharge pipes

Flow bypassing outsideof constructed VFS

Creating barnyard runoff

Screens and Collector Drop Box

Average DP Removal in a Grass VFS on Lackawanna sl

<---- y = -0.0814x + 20.306R2 = 0.8903y = 23.817e-0.0123x

R2 = 0.8443

0

5

10

15

20

25

0 50 100 150 200 250 300

Distance from a Loading Source, feet

Dis

solv

ed P

Con

cent

ratio

n, m

g/l Responses and modeling results

Dissolve P Removal in a Grass VFS on Lackawanna sl

0

25

50

75

100

0 50 100 150 200 250 300

Distance from Loading Source, feet

Phos

phor

us R

emov

al, %

Average

Wet Period Average

Dry Period Average

Performance as Percent P Removal

Barnyard Runoff

Estimated Nitrogen FateImmobilized Soil OM 20%Denitrified 20%Volatilization 20%Crop Uptake 30%Leaching 10%

Total 100%

Barnyard Runoff

Estimated Nitrogen FateImmobilized Soil OM 100 Lbs.Denitrified 100 Lbs.Volatilization 100 Lbs.Crop Uptake 150 Lbs.Leaching 50 Lbs.

Total 500 Lbs. N/Acre

Barnyard Runoff

Assumptions:20 gallons manure /cow per day32 Lbs. N/1000 gallons of manure230 Lbs. N / cow per yearTime in barnyard proportional to manure leftDaily cleaning leaves 10% available to flowSettling removes 25% of N

Barnyard Runoff

230 Lbs. N / cow per year10% Time in barnyard

23 Lbs. N/cow/yr.Daily cleaning leaves 10% available to flow

2.3 Lbs. N/cow/yr.Settling removes 25% of N

1.7 Lbs. N/cow/yr.

Pollution Prevention

Eliminate

Reduce

Recycle

Barnyards

Purpose?HoldingFeeding or waterRestingExerciseHeat detection

Eliminate!!

Barnyard Purpose?

HoldingSmall 15 Square Feet per cowRoof

Eliminate!!

Barnyard Purpose?

Feeding or water30 Square Feet per Cow24 hr Access?Feed quality?

DecayRation

Eliminate!!

Barnyard Purpose?

Resting50 Square Feet per CowCow comfort in the barn?

StallsFloorsVentilation

Eliminate!!

Barnyard Purpose?

Exercise2 miles a day?Hoof management

Eliminate!!

Barnyard Purpose?

Heat detectionUse Secondary SignsOther methods

Eliminate!!

Heat Detection

Primary SignsMounting

AccessFooting

Secondary SignsMilk reductionDischargeBehavior

Synchronized ovulationOVSYNCH

$8/cow

Barnyards

Eliminate

Reduce

Relocate

Conclusions:

Concentrated Sources Need to be ControlledPrevention is KeyLook for Low Cost Alternatives to Treatment