Florida Cattlemen's Association Water Quality BMP Practices for Cow/Calf Operations: A Job Well Done, a Manual Worth Studying

March 2001
Pat Miller - Okeechobee County Extension, Dairy & Water Quality Agent

In 1997, the Florida Cattlemen's Association began a process to develop a manual of Water Quality Best Management Practices for Cow/Calf Operations[1.5MB]. This effort was a proactive exercise to address tougher water quality standards on the horizon for agriculture. The recent passage of the Lake Okeechobee Protection Program by the legislature this past year has indeed demonstrated the need for producers and residents of the Lake Okeechobee Basin to become active participants in the effort to reduce the amount of phosphorus flowing into Lake Okeechobee.

New water standards, known as TMDLs (Total Maximum Daily Load), have not been set for individual land owners. The in-lake concentration target has been set at 40 ppb. The intent of the regulators is to address the problem of over concentration of P in runoff water on a basin or sub basin level. A target will be set for these smaller basins. If the basin is achieving compliance, then those land owners in that basin will be assumed to be in compliance with the standard. On the other hand, if the basin as a whole is not achieving compliance, further investigation will be undertaken to determine the source of the problem.

The BMP effort is, at this time, a purely voluntary effort. Landowners should begin now to plan and implement BMPs on their property. As this effort progresses, a well thought out, implemented and documented plan may be an invaluable asset in discussions with regulators.

The Cattlemen's BMP manual was written for the members of the Florida Cattlemen's Association. Copies are available free of charge to the membership.

The manual is a comprehensive look at developing a nutrient management plan. Included are Water and Ground water risk assessment documents. These worksheets are there to help you assess the potential for water quality problems on your property. You can identify sources of potential problems and prioritize areas where you may need to take action.

Once having completed the risk assessments, you are ready to move through the remainder of the manual to identify BMPs that have the potential to abate your particular problem situation. A listing and discussion of various BMPs covers much of manual. Also covered are native ranch grazing, DEP construction practices, associated land use concerns, and BMPs for pesticides, fertilizers, fuels and other potential pollutants.

Probably, the most important aspect of water quality BMP selection and implementation on your land is documentation of your efforts. Many of these BMPs you may well have been doing for many years. It is imperative however that you begin to document these efforts.

This documentation can take many forms but needs to record on paper your efforts to improve water quality. This may include items such as a dated notation you mended the fence keeping cattle out of a stream, or you discussed your ranch water quality practices with your employees, or you moved the mineral feeders on a given date, etc.

In short, keep a notebook in your truck and jot down this type of activity. Record the implementation of new BMPs and the maintenance of them. Many more suggestions are available in the manual.

The Water Quality Best Management Practices for Cow/Calf Operations[1.5MB] manual is available on-line through the Florida Cattlemen's Association Web site - click the magazine link, then go to bulletins.

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