Good Agricultural Practices Site Selection and Soil Amendments

Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service is an equal access/equal opportunity institution.

“This activity was funded, by Purdue, as part of AgSEED Crossroads funding to support Indiana's Agriculture and Rural Development”.

Site Selection •  Land use history:

– Possible contamination? •  Livestock or manure •  Flooding •  Hazardous chemicals

•  Is adjacent land being used for purposes that may result in contamination of land? – proximity to livestock operations, cull piles,

refuse dumps and debris

Site Selection

•  Soil can be tested for fecal bacteria, heavy metals or chemical contamination.

•  Fecal coliforms or E. coli are often used as indicators of contamination by manure or sewage.

Audit Checklist: Site history and soils

Questions Points YES NO N/A Doc

1-23 A previous land use risk assessment has been performed.

5 R

1-24 When previous land use history indicates a possibility of contamination, preventative measures have been taken to mitigate the known risks and soils have been tested for contaminants and the land use is commensurate with test results.

10

R

1-25 Crop production areas that have been subjected to flooding are tested for potential microbial hazards.

5

R

All Manure Can Carry Pathogens •  Livestock

•  cattle, swine, poultry, horse, & sheep

•  Dog and Cat •  Bird •  Rodent •  Deer •  Fly or other insect •  Human Common pathogens in manure

–  E. coli O157:H7 –  Salmonella

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What’s in your watershed? Where’s the livestock? Wildlife?

Runoff into irrigation pond? Where’s the well?

http://www.mo.nrcs.usda.gov/news/MOphotogallery/Ponds%20Dams%20Lakes/PL566-6.jpg

Irrigation Pond

Prevent livestock, manure and contaminated runoff from coming in contact with produce or irrigation water

Wild Animals

•  Watch for evidence of wild animals –  Keep them out of fields

•  Control: –  Fencing –  Scare tactics –  Depredation –  Modification of the

surrounding environment

Photo of deer: Adele Hodde, Illinois Department of Natural Resources; others e. Maynard.

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Pets •  Keep pets out of field during growing season,

using barriers as necessary. •  Animals can bring not only their waste but

can carry pathogens from the waste of other animals.

http://www.kingcounty.gov/recreation/parks/inventory/marymoor/offleash.aspx

Draft Animals •  Designate and use roadways

in fields when possible •  Seed roadways with grass •  Pay attention to sanitation •  Immediately remove any

contamination and develop harvest protocol

http://www.kingcounty.gov/recreation/parks/inventory/marymoor/offleash.aspx

Preventive Controls if You Find Feces in the Field?

•  Immediately remove any feces and dispose of away from field

•  Do not harvest produce nearby that may be contaminated –  Suggested buffer zones range from 5-25 foot radius,

depending on crop, climate ,and contamination

•  Clearly mark area that should not be harvested

•  If there is a repeated presence, take action

Questions Points YES NO N/A Doc

1-12 Crop production areas are monitored for the presence or signs of wild or domestic animals entering the land. 5 R

1-13 Measures are taken to reduce the opportunity for wild and/or domestic animals from entering the crop production areas. 5 R

Record and Audit Checklist Animals/Wildlife/Livestock

Using Manure as a soil amendment

•  Valuable source of nutrients •  Potential source of pathogens •  Take measures to reduce risk when using

Indiana Manure Storage •  Storage in an approved manure storage

structure •  If application more than 72 hours – 90 days

•  must be covered or otherwise protected to prevent run-off or infiltration to ground water

– Not within 300 feet •  water wells •  surface waters •  drainage inlets

•  Away from fields Cornell GAPS

Decreasing Pathogens from Manure

•  Manure of young livestock tend to be higher in pathogens

•  Type of animal matters –  Horse manure typically much lower in E. coli O157:H7

•  Incorporate manure into soil –  reduces physical transmission risk (splash) –  increases competition and predation from soil microbes –  Seasonal Patterns

•  Most prolific under warm humid conditions. •  Maximize the time between application and harvest •  Compost manure

Applying Raw Manure •  Avoid contaminating:

–  irrigation water – other crops –  finished compost or other materials

•  What crop is in the next field? –  Don’t apply manure or manure-containing litter

while edible part of crop is present.

http://www.al.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/photo/anim/mngt/spreader.jpg

http://nj.gov/agriculture/annual00/plant.htm

Preventive Controls when Applying Raw Manure

•  Apply in the fall to a cover crop before ground freezes

•  Apply in the spring to an agronomic crop (or other crop not for direct human consumption) the season before vegetables •  Incorporate 2 weeks before planting

•  Organic Standards: Apply and incorporate manure at least 90-120 days before harvest of crop for human consumption

http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2008/080903.htm

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Applying Raw Manure • Proposed FSMA Rule:

–  deferring decision, to do more risk assessment and research (9/14) – www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceRegulation/FSMA/ucm425766.htm

•  ECGA • No manure for at least two years prior to production

Summary: Manure Application

•  Do not assume any manure is ‘clean’. •  Incorporate, Incorporate, Incorporate •  Absolutely NO SIDEDRESSING produce with fresh

manure. •  Know manure source and how it was handled

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Option A: Raw Manure Points YES NO N/A Doc

1-14 When raw manure is applied, it is incorporated at least 2 weeks prior to planting and a minimum of 120 days prior to harvest.

10 R

1-15 Raw manure is not used on commodities that are harvested within 120 days of planting. 10 R

1-16 If both raw and treated manure are used, the treated manure is properly treated, composted or exposed to reduce the expected levels of pathogens.

10 R

Audit Checklist Manure

This is from the USDA GAPs Audit Checklist. �Other audits may have different rules! �

Ro#ng  pile  vs.  compost    

So  what  makes  manure  .  .  .  compost?          

Is  it  Compost?  

•  Unless  the  compost  has  been  produced  under  very  strictly  regulated  circumstances    

•  Then,  it  is  manure  and  should  be  treated  as  such.  

Where’s this bucket been?

Compost: defined in the Organic Rule “The  product  of  a  managed  process  through  which  microorganisms  break  down  plant  and  animal  materials  into  more  available  forms  suitable  for  applicaCon  to  the  soil.    • Compost  produced  through  a  process  that  combines  plant  and  animal  materials    

–  with  an  iniCal  C:N  raCo  of  between  25:1  and  40:1  • Producers  using  an  in-­‐vessel  or  staCc  aerated  pile  system    

–  must  maintain  the  composCng  materials  at  a  temperature  between  131⁰F  and  170⁰F  for  3  days.  

• Producers  using  a  windrow  system    –  must  maintain  the  composCng  materials  at  a  temperature  between  131⁰  F  and  170⁰  F  for  15  days,  during  which  Cme,  

–   the  materials  must  be  turned  a  minimum  of  five  Cmes”  

The  old  adage….  If  you  didn’t  write  it  down  .  .  .  

it  never  happened.    •  So  if  you  want  to  use  composted  manure  as  compost  instead  of  manure    –  record  all  composCng  process  steps  

•  If  you  obtain  compost  from  someone  else    –  request  documentaCon  of  ingredients  and  process.  

TesCng  •  TesCng  is  available  through  commercial  labs  and  is  recommended  in  situaCons  where  there  is  any  doubt  about  the  purity  of  manures.    

•  Manure  web.extension.illinois.edu/clmt/Workbook/APPENDIX/APP_F.DOC  

•  Compost  www.composCngcouncil.org/programs/sta/  

Finished Compost Field Application based on Nutrient Application

•  Application of finished compost to your fields – No setbacks. – No permit for application.

Preventive Controls Using Composted Manure

•  Know the source of the compost •  Once compost is finished

–  protect it from contamination.

•  Proposed FSMA rule: no restriction in use (9/14) –  compost would have to meet the microbial standard –  applied in a manner that minimizes the potential for

contact with produce both during and after application.

Keep Records of Manure and Compost Use

•  Know the source of manure or compost. –  Methods used to produce compost –  Type of manure, animal age, storage time.

•  Keep records of: –  application rates –  Timing –  fields receiving materials

Option B: Composted Manure Points YES NO N/A Doc

1-18 Only composted manure and/or treated biosolids are used as a soil amendment. 10 R

1-19 Composted manure and/or treated biosolids are properly treated, composted, or exposed to environmental conditions that would lower the expected level of pathogens.

10 D

1-21 Analysis reports are available for composted manure/treated biosolids. 5 R

Audit Checklist Compost

Other Crop Management Practices to Decrease Crop Contact with Soil

•  Use trellis/staking where appropriate, such as tomatoes.

•  Use plastic mulch and drip irrigation to reduce leaf wetting.

•  Use organic mulches/ cover crops to reduce splash.

http://news.msue.msu.edu/sites/msue/uploads/images/5-18-1%20Plastic%20much%20with%20cukes%20MATHIEU.jpg

Other Animal Byproducts •  E.g.,  bloodmeal,  bonemeal,  fish  emulsion,  feathermeal  

•  Check  the  process    • Watch  for  contaminaCon  with  manure    •  OMRI  approved?      -­‐important  for  organic  producCon  

•  Proposed  rule:  consider  ‘treated’  or  ‘untreated’  using  same  standards  as  for  manure  

•  No  biosolids  (ECGA,  FSMA)  http://www.dnr.wisconsin.gov/org/caer/ce/eek/earth/images/fertilizer.gif

Example of Test for Microbes in Fertilizer

Indiana Biosolid Rules •  Food crops shall not be harvested

–  fourteen (14) months after application of a biosolid if the harvested part: •  touches the ground where biosolid has been applied; and •  has no harvested parts below the soil surface.

–  twenty (20) months after application of a biosolid if: •  the biosolid remains on the land surface for four (4) months or longer prior to

incorporation into the soil; and •  harvested parts are below the soil surface.

–  thirty-eight (38) months after application of biosolid if: •  the biosolid remains on the land surface for less than four (4) months prior to

incorporation into the soil; and •  harvested parts are below the soil surface.

–  Unless subsection (a), (b), or (c) applies, food crops, feed crops, and fiber crops shall not be harvested for thirty (30) days after application of biosolid.

Summary •  Know the history of your site and current

environment •  Keep animals and run-off from their waste away

from crops and irrigation water •  Applying and incorporate manure early •  Compost reduces risk •  Research soil amendment processing method •  No biosolids in produce production

Purdue  University  is  an  Equal  Opportunity/Equal  Access  InsCtuCon  

Funded  in  part  by  a  USDA  Specialty  Crops  Block  Grant  from  the  Indiana  State  Department  of  Agriculture  

Questions?

Acknowledgments Por$ons  of  this  presenta$on  adapted  from  the  work  of:  Modified by

Ellen Phillips, University of Illinois Extension Liz Maynard, Purdue University

North Carolina GAPS Karl Shaffer – Dept. of Soil Science, NCSU Alexandria Graves – Dept. of Soil Science, NCSU Fletcher Arritt – Dept. of Food, Bioprocessing and Nutrition Sciences, NCSU Rhonda Sherman – Dept. of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, NCSU Deanna Osmond – Dept. of Soil Science, NCSU Chris Gunter – Dept. of Horticultural Science, NCSU Billy Little – N.C. Cooperative Extension, Wilson County Center

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Par$ally  Funded  by:    • Purdue, as part of AgSEED Crossroads funding to support Indiana's Agriculture and Rural Development • USDA Specialty Crops Block Grant from the Indiana State Dept. of Agriculture