Next Generation Record Keeping System for Confined Animal Feeding Operation Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans

C. Farris1, D. W. Hamilton1. N. B. Litherland1, S.D. Fuhlendorf1, L. D. Poindexter2 and J. Eckroat2

1 Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma 2 Natural Resource Conservation Service, Stillwater, Oklahoma

Record keeping is essential to the proper management of animal feeding operation; this does not exclude the livestock industry. Using local livestock operator's assistance the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service (OCES) is developing a prototype record keeping system for Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) that will fulfill all Oklahoma Department of Agriculture Food and Forestry (ODAFF) and United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 6 regulatory requirements. This system will also fulfill the needs of the United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS) Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans (CNMP). Two types of record keeping systems will be created 1) a paper copy format stored in a ring binder and 2) an electronic system created on a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA). Focus groups of CAFO producers from around the state, who recently filed for a CNMP CAFO permit, were provided assistance through OCES to aid in creating the recordkeeping system. These focus groups include swine, beef cattle and dairy operators. The focus groups are helping create the first prototype record keeping interface using the Manure Management Planner (MMP from Purdue) and the Spatial Nutrient Management Planning Software (SNMP from Missouri). A second prototype will be created at a later time, after the integration of changes from prototype one are complete. ODAFF, EPA Region 6, and NRCS will determine if the second prototype meets regulatory needs.

Key Words: CNMP, CAFO, Oklahoma, environmental records