Colorado Ag RegulationsColorado Ag Regulations

Agriculture regulations Agriculture regulations can be broke into two can be broke into two very broad categories.very broad categories.

Livestock RegulationsLivestock RegulationsLivestock regulations deal with Livestock regulations deal with the removal and application of the removal and application of animal feces. animal feces.

Farm/Chemical RegulationsFarm/Chemical RegulationsFarm chemical regulations deal Farm chemical regulations deal with the application and storage with the application and storage of herbicides, pesticides, of herbicides, pesticides, fertilizers, and insecticides.fertilizers, and insecticides.

How do I if my operation is required How do I if my operation is required to follow these regulations? to follow these regulations?

LivestockLivestock AFO AFO (Animal Feeding Operations)(Animal Feeding Operations)

A confined animal operation that produces A confined animal operation that produces meat, milk, or eggs.meat, milk, or eggs.

Animals are confined for more than 45 days Animals are confined for more than 45 days in 12 monthsin 12 months

Crop ground is not sustained in the area of Crop ground is not sustained in the area of productionproduction

All AFO’s that are located near a water All AFO’s that are located near a water source that may be used for human source that may be used for human consumption are considered a CAFOconsumption are considered a CAFO

Livestock ContinuedLivestock Continued

CAFO CAFO (Concentrated Animal Feeding (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation)Operation) A confined animal operation that produces A confined animal operation that produces

meat, milk, or eggsmeat, milk, or eggs They house more than:They house more than:

1,000 feeder cattle1,000 feeder cattle 700 mature dairy cattle(dry or milking)700 mature dairy cattle(dry or milking) 2,500 feeder swine ( over 55 pounds)2,500 feeder swine ( over 55 pounds) 500 horses500 horses 10,000 sheep or lambs10,000 sheep or lambs 55,000 turkys55,000 turkys 100,000 laying hens100,000 laying hens

What are the requirements for What are the requirements for AFO’s and CAFO’s?AFO’s and CAFO’s?

AFO’sAFO’s Protect surface water, groundwater, Protect surface water, groundwater,

and soil resources through best and soil resources through best management practicesmanagement practices

Best Management PracticesBest Management Practices using adequate manure and wastewater using adequate manure and wastewater

storagestorage using efficient land application practicesusing efficient land application practices

Requirements cont.Requirements cont.

CAFO’s CAFO’s Prohibited from discharging manure or Prohibited from discharging manure or

wastewater in to any Colorado waterswastewater in to any Colorado waters Manure- includes litter, bedding, and waste feedManure- includes litter, bedding, and waste feed The only exception to this law is a 25-year, 24-The only exception to this law is a 25-year, 24-

hour stormhour storm Management practices should include: Management practices should include:

earthen storage structures made of low earthen storage structures made of low permeable materials (clay): ex. Lagoonpermeable materials (clay): ex. Lagoon

formed storage tanks made of wood, steel, or formed storage tanks made of wood, steel, or concreteconcrete

Land Application of ManureLand Application of Manure

Any new facility that plans on Any new facility that plans on applying manure must submit a land applying manure must submit a land application planapplication plan

Application rate should not exceed Application rate should not exceed the soil infiltration rate the soil infiltration rate

There should be no application of There should be no application of manure when the ground is frozen, manure when the ground is frozen, full saturated, or during rainfall, if the full saturated, or during rainfall, if the application site may result in runoff application site may result in runoff into a waterway into a waterway

Farm/ChemicalFarm/Chemical

Colorado regulates the registration, Colorado regulates the registration, labeling, transportation, distribution, labeling, transportation, distribution, storage, commercial application, and storage, commercial application, and disposal of pesticides and fertilizers. disposal of pesticides and fertilizers.

This regulation is done through three This regulation is done through three acts: the Pesticide Act, the Pesticide acts: the Pesticide Act, the Pesticide Applicators’ Act, and the Colorado Applicators’ Act, and the Colorado Chemigation ActChemigation Act

Colorado Pesticide ActColorado Pesticide Act

Regulates the registration, labeling, Regulates the registration, labeling, transportation, distribution, storage, use, and transportation, distribution, storage, use, and disposal of pesticidesdisposal of pesticides

All pesticides and pesticide devices must be All pesticides and pesticide devices must be registeredregistered

A restricted-use pesticide dealer must obtain a A restricted-use pesticide dealer must obtain a pesticide dealer licensepesticide dealer license

Producers who limit their handling of pesticides Producers who limit their handling of pesticides to field mixing and loading do not need to be to field mixing and loading do not need to be concerned with the rules that deal with concerned with the rules that deal with pesticide storage facilitiespesticide storage facilities

Colorado Pesticide Applicator’s Colorado Pesticide Applicator’s ActAct

Regulates the persons that apply pesticidesRegulates the persons that apply pesticides There are several different classificationsThere are several different classifications

Commercial ApplicatorCommercial Applicator-business is applying -business is applying pesticides, must keep 3 years of specific pesticides, must keep 3 years of specific recordsrecords

Limited commercial applicatorLimited commercial applicator-applies -applies chemicals on their own land or that land of chemicals on their own land or that land of their employer, not required to have a license, their employer, not required to have a license, but must keep 3 year of recordsbut must keep 3 year of records

These regulations do not apply to a person who These regulations do not apply to a person who is applying pesticides for the production of is applying pesticides for the production of agricultural products on his/her own or rent agricultural products on his/her own or rent property, or someone who is an employee of property, or someone who is an employee of that personthat person

Colorado Chemigation ActColorado Chemigation Act Chemigation is a type of irrigation that Chemigation is a type of irrigation that

incorporates chemicals (fertilizers, pesticides, incorporates chemicals (fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, and insecticides) by mixing water herbicides, and insecticides) by mixing water with these chemicals in a closed irrigation with these chemicals in a closed irrigation system.system.

A closed irrigation system is a combination of A closed irrigation system is a combination of devices such as pipe, hose, or other conduit devices such as pipe, hose, or other conduit that directly attaches to the ground water or that directly attaches to the ground water or surface water sourcesurface water source

An agriculture producer is required to obtain a An agriculture producer is required to obtain a permit for this type of irrigation and application permit for this type of irrigation and application systemsystem

Nonpoint Source PollutionNonpoint Source Pollution

A result of a rainfall or snow melting A result of a rainfall or snow melting event that picks up and carries away event that picks up and carries away pollutantspollutants

This pollution may end up in a This pollution may end up in a Colorado waterwayColorado waterway

SummarySummary

You should be more familiar with You should be more familiar with laws that are required for agriculture laws that are required for agriculture producers in regards to the producers in regards to the environment environment