There are environmental regulations for the different agricultural activities on a farm. These regulations are put in place to protect the waters of the commonwealth by keeping soil and excess nutrients from reaching streams and lakes.

Being compliant with the laws can be simple and straightforward for small operations or more complex for larger ones.

Any farm in Pennsylvania that produces or applies manure, regardless of size, is required to have and implement a written manure management plan.

This includes manure and agricultural process wastewater application by various types of equipment and/or direct application of manure by animals on pastures and in animal concentration areas (ACAs).

In other words, farms that do not mechanically apply manure but which do have pastures or ACAs still need a manure management plan.

For operations that involve plowing and tilling activities greater than 5,000 square feet, a written erosion and sediment (E&S) plan, also known as a conservation plan, is required.

An E&S plan is written to limit soil loss from accelerated erosion from agricultural plowing or tilling activities and through heavy use areas.

The Butler County Conservation District is planning to conduct several workshops to review these requirements with agricultural operators.

If you would like to attend a workshop or more information on the regulations, please contact the District at 724-284-5270.

Ron Fodor is manager of the Butler County Conservation District.