Air and water regulations explained

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Confused about how current changes in state and federal water and air quality regulations will affect nutrition and manure management strategies on the farm?

Dairy and Livestock Nutrient and Environmental Educational Days can answer that question. This program addresses the regulatory changes and updates required in nutrition and manure management to promote improved water and air quality.

All in a day. The one-day program will be offered at seven sites across Pennsylvania in an effort to educate conservation specialists, producers, agronomists and feed industry representatives about how these changes will affect them.

The program is being held in cooperation with Dairy Alliance, Pennsylvania Environmental Agricultural Conservation Certification of Excellence, USDA Agricultural Research Service and the departments of Dairy and Animal Science and Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology at Penn State.

Topics of interest. Topics to be covered include:

* Managing the environmental risks of manure storage structures;

* Using site assessment as a tool for livestock producers to manage odor and air quality;

* Pennsylvania nutrient and water quality policies including recent developments, program linkages and opportunities;

* Managing phosphorus via nutrition and the P-index;

* Biosecurity concerns;

* The Environmental Awareness Course and the Pennsylvania Environmental Agricultural Conservation Certification of Excellence program.

Dates. The program will be held on these dates in the following counties: Sept. 26, Lackawanna County at the Mayfield Service Center, Mayfield;

Oct. 17, Crawford County at the Holiday Inn Express, Meadville;

Oct. 24, Berks County at the Berks County Ag Center, Leesport;

Feb. 13, Dauphin County at the Dauphin Ag Service Center, Dauphin;

Feb. 20, Lycoming County at the Lycoming County Extension Office, Montoursville;

Feb. 27, Somerset County at the Oakhurst Tea Room, Somerset;

March 19, Indiana County at the Holiday Inn, Indiana.

Each program will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. The fee to attend is $15 and includes lunch. The registration fee is offset by funding from the Pennsylvania Environmental Agricultural Conservation Certification of Excellence program.

To register contact Dairy Alliance at 1-888-373-PADA or 814-865-4682.

The registration deadline is one week prior to the event.