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Small Farm Water Quality Improvement Project

Joshua Dallin, Jacob Hadfield, Cody Zesiger, and Hope Braithwaite

Summary

Livestock waste management has become a critical environmental concern. Concentrated animal feeding operations containing livestock and poultry can produce almost 13 times more waste than the entire US population. To address issues relating to water quality and sustainability, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has created laws and regulations for managing manure. In 2017, the United States Department of Agriculture reported that the number of small farms specifically in Utah had grown by 2% over the past 5 years. With this increasing number, it has become more important than ever for producers to understand proper risk management strategies to align with EPA regulations and to avoid contaminating their local tributaries.

The Small Farm Water Quality Improvement Project offers a unique avenue for small farms and agriculture operations to improve the state of their surrounding water quality. To receive funding, small farm producers presented their proposed projects through an application process that showcased a need for water quality improvement, proposed corrective strategy and cost, and expected positive water quality outcomes.

Utah State University and the Utah Division of Water Quality provided $75,000 to small farm producers. Of twenty two applications, seven projects were awarded funding. Many of these small farms reside near, on, or alongside surface water sources, thus increasing the chances of water pollution. Completed projects ranged from fencing off riparian areas to complete restructuring of facilities.

This presentation will highlight project efficacy, mitigated risk, and overall improvement on select small farms.

Details

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