ID-166: On-Farm Composting of Animal Mortalities

Amanda Gumbert, Steve Higgins, Sarah Wightman | May. 6, 2013 (Minor Revision)

On-farm composting can provide animal producers with a convenient method for disposing of animal mortalities and also provide a valuable soil amendment. In addition, the finished compost can be stockpiled and reused to help compost other mortalities.

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ID-200: Environmental Compliance for Dairy Operations

Amanda Gumbert, Steve Higgins, Sarah Wightman | Apr. 24, 2013 (New)

Some farmers are reluctant to talk about the environment, but because farms are under increasing review by state and federal regulatory agencies, producers need to be familiar with environmental issues and regulations. Implementing best management practices (BMPs) can help farmers continue to protect the environment and increase productivity.

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ID-202: Feedlot Design and Environmental Management for Backgrounding and Stocker Operations

Steve Higgins, Jeff Lehmkuhler, Sarah Wightman | Mar. 21, 2013 (New)

Kentucky's cattle industry represents the largest beef cattle herd east of the Mississippi, ranking eighth in the nation for number of beef cows. This industry is extremely important to Kentucky's economy. This publication discusses site evaluation strategies, production area management techniques, and a variety of facility types for intensive cattle production that preserve natural resources and improve production.

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AEN-113: Nutrient Management Concepts for Livestock Producers

Steve Higgins, Sarah Wightman | Mar. 27, 2012 (New)

Nutrients are constantly cycling through farms. Nutrients come onto a farm in the form of feed, commercial fertilizers, manure, or compost, and they leave the farm with harvested crops, sold livestock, and off-site disposal of manure and other waste. Sometimes nutrients are even lost to the air, soil, or water. Nutrient management allows farmers to use nutrients (specifically nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) wisely for optimal economic benefit with minimal impact on the environment.

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ID-189: Vegetative Filter Strips for Livestock Facilities

Steve Higgins, Ray Smith, Sarah Wightman | Feb. 23, 2012 (New)

An enhanced vegetative strip is a best management practice that can be installed to protect surface waters from pollution produced by animal production facilities. Most people think of a vegetative strip as a grassed area or waterway, but when intentionally installed and properly managed, an EVS can be much more effective than a simple grassed filter strip. If properly managed, enhanced vegetative strips can be used to trap, treat, and absorb pollutants, which can be removed from the designated area by harvesting or grazing.

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AEN-109: Sinkhole Management for Agricultural Producers

Steve Higgins, Sarah Wightman | Oct. 18, 2011 (New)

A karst landscape develops when the limestone or dolostone bedrock underneath the soil dissolves and/or collapses due to weathering. A karst system can be recognized by surface features such as depressions, sinkholes, sinking streams, and caves. In karst systems, surface water and groundwater are interconnected: surface water runoff flows into sinkholes and sinking streams and recharges the groundwater; likewise, springs maintain stream flow in the dry season. Kentuckians living in karst areas need to be acutely aware that any pollutants that reach either surface water or any karst feature can pollute the entire groundwater system (also called an aquifer). In addition, the cave system that accompanies a karst aquifer can allow pollutants to contaminate miles of water resources in just a few hours.

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AEN-107: Paved Feeding Areas and the Kentucky Agriculture Water Quality Plan

Steve Higgins, Sarah Wightman | Jul. 28, 2011 (New)

Kentucky's abundant forage makes it well suited for grazing livestock. Livestock producers can make additional profits by adding a few pounds before marketing calves; however, adding those pounds requires keeping calves during the winter months, when pasture forages are dormant and supplemental feed is required. The areas used to winter calves need to be conducive to feeding and need to avoid negatively impacting the environment, especially water quality.

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AEN-103: Stormwater BMPs for Confined Livestock Facilities

Steve Higgins, Sarah Wightman | Jul. 28, 2011 (New)

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency states that agricultural sediment, pathogens, and nutrients account for more than 50 percent of water pollution in the United States. Animal confinement facilities, widely used for holding, feeding, and handling animals, are potential sources of that pollution. The pollution load of these facilities can be reduced by installing and maintaining best management practices. The BMPs may be implemented as part of permit compliance or may be used to ensure that a permit is not needed.

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AEN-101: Stream Crossings for Cattle

Carmen Agouridis, Steve Higgins, Sarah Wightman | Jul. 13, 2011 (New)

This publication provides livestock producers with instructions on how to install a stream crossing that provides animal and vehicular access across streams. This best management practice (BMP) is intended for use with exclusion fencing that restricts cattle access to the stream. Implementation of a stream crossing with exclusion fencing will improve water quality, reducing nutrient, sediment, pathogen, and organic matter loads to streams.

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AEN-105: Pasture Feeding, Streamside Grazing, and the Kentucky Agriculture Water Quality Plan

Carmen Agouridis, Steve Higgins, Sarah Wightman | Jul. 13, 2011 (New)

Kentucky's abundant forage makes it well suited for grazing livestock, but the pasturing and pasture feeding of livestock need to be managed. Allowing cattle to behave as they would naturally can lead to overgrazing, congregation in sensitive areas, buildup of mud, loss of vegetation, compaction of soils, and erosion.