Are you a CAFO?
Farms with more than:
- 700 cows, 2,500 hogs, 500 horses, 82,000 layers, 125,000 broilers, etc. or
- 1,000,000 lbs. of live weight of animals (combined animals), or
- More than 300,000 lbs of animals and a CAO (see below for CAO)
See the "Is my Operation a CAFO" handout for more detail in determining CAFO
Yes
Develop:
- Approved Nutrient Management Plan1
- CAFO permit
No
(see below)
Are You A CAO?
Farms with more than 2,000 lbs. of animals per acre available for manure application, such as:
- Farms with more than 137 cows per 100 acres of cropland
- Farms with more than 1,212 hogs per 100 acres of cropland
- Farms with more than 63,500 chickens per 100 acres of cropland
See "Penn State Agronomy Facts 54 - Pennsylvania's Nutrient Management Act (Act 38): Who is Affected?" factsheet for more detail in determining CAO status
Yes
Develop:
- Approved Nutrient Management Plan1
No
(see below)
Do you land apply manure or agricultural process wastewater, regardless of amount or method of application?
Yes
Develop:
- Manure Management Plan2
No
(see below)
No Nutrient/Manure Management Plan required for your farm
1Nutrient Management Plan: written by a certified nutrient management specialist to meet Nutrient Management Act 38 standards and approved by the county Conservation District
2Manure Management Plan: do not need to be written by a certified specialist (farmer can develop the plan themselves according to Manure Management Manual standards) and no submission or approval is required.
