NRCS Practice Standard: Dust Management for Pen Surfaces (375)

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NRCS Practice Standard: Dust Management for Pen Surfaces (375)

About the Company:

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is the US Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s primary private lands conservation agency. The NRCS helps producers protect and conserve natural resources on private lands through voluntary conservation programs. Through Practice Standards and technical guides, the NRCS provides information about the conservation, energy resources, and provides personalized advice to individual producers.

The NRCS’ Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) provides technical and financial assistance to producers as they implement NRCS Conservation Practice Standards.

Technical guides used in each field office are localized so that they apply specifically to the geographic area for which they are prepared. Thus, while national guidelines have been provided as a framework for each standard, each state has adopted and modified the conservation practice standards to suit their individual landscape.

To find a local NRCS Service center click here.

To find the specific guideline for each state click here.

About the Solution:

Dust Management for Pen Surfaces (375)

NRCS Conservation Practice Standard Dust Management for Pen Surfaces (Code 375) is for reducing or preventing the emissions of particulate matter (i.e., dust) arising from animal activity on pen surfaces at animal feeding operations.

Practice Information

The purpose of this practice is to improve air quality by reducing the dust emissions caused by animal activity on pen surfaces. The primary air quality resource concern addressed by this practice is “Emissions of Particulate Matter (PM) and PM Precursors.”

This practice applies to any pen surface (e.g., open-lot area, holding pen, corral, working alley, or other similar area where animals are confined) that may be subject to animal activity at animal feeding operations (AFOs). It is particularly important for AFOs in drier climates located close to major roadways and populated areas.

Prior to installation of this practice, incorporate a dust prevention and control strategy for mitigating dust emissions from animal activity on pen surfaces into the site conservation plan.

This practice requires maintenance over the expected life of the practice.

Common Associated Practices

NRCS Conservation Practice Standards (CPS) Dust Management for Pen Surfaces (Code 375) is commonly applied with other conservation practices such as:

  • Sprinkler System (Code 442)
  • Critical Area Planting (Code 342)
  • Heavy Use Area Protection (Code 561)
  • Mulching (Code 484)
  • Dust Control on Unpaved Roads and Surfaces (Code 373)
  • Windbreak/Shelterbelt Establishment (Code 380)


    • To view the national NRCS standard for Dust Management for Pen Surfaces please click here.

    Natural Resources Conservation Service, US Department of Agriculture 1400 Independence Ave., S.W. Washington, DC United States 1-833-ONE-USDA Visit Company Website

    Solution Type

    • General Support and Other

    Vendor

    • Others

    Product

    • Other

    Problem

    • Odor

    To view additional information about this vendor, click below.

    Solution Strengths, Weaknesses and Critical Indicators

    NOTE: There are multiple technologies that are used as part of integrated manure management systems and yet are not manure management types on their own. The impact of these technologies on their own would be minimal or very difficult to quantify.

    General Support & Other:

    • Can be an integral part of many manure management systems
    • Most projects have at least some equipment that supports operations of the main technology
    • This technology is not evaluated on its own, the NEAT Matrix for this technology is neutral unless utilized with other technologies.
    Neat Matrix
    Nitrogen Recovery
    Phosphorus Recovery
    Storage Reduction
    GHG Reduction
    Odor Control
    Pathogen Reduction
    P Peer Reviewed
    D Documented
    E Expert Opinion
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    Newtrient Comments/Opinions:

    Newtrient is using the USDA-NRCS conservation practice standards as tools to assist dairy producers in understanding the standards and how they can be used to address resources concerns.

    To establish a Practice Standard a system or practice must be thoroughly vetted, approved, and standardized by the USDA at the federal and state level. These conservation practices have been developed to address various environmental resource concerns. Newtrient has developed a 9-point scoring process for ranking additives, practices, services, and technologies for the dairy industry. Recognizing the rigorous approval procedure used during the development of the NRCS Practice Standards, many of them score very highly and are worthy of consideration on any dairy where they apply.

    The information provided here is a summary of the selected conservation practices. For up to date and detailed information related to the full Practice Standards, please see the USDA NRCS website, linked above.

    Newtrient 9-Point Scoring Rating

    View the Scoring Page

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