Revised:  04/16/2010

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	Animal Waste Management Plans

Why Manage Animal Waste?

The goal of animal waste management is to make best use of the nutrients in manure while protecting natural resources. When managed properly, manure can be a valuable resource on a farm by providing nutrients for crop production and improving soil quality. However, if manure is mismanaged or there is insufficient land to use the amount of manure produced, water supplies and the environment could be at risk.

Who Needs to Manage Animal Waste?

The State of New Jersey requires that all livestock farms proactively address and manage non-point source pollution that may originate from livestock operations. Additionally, all livestock producers must meet the general requirements of the Animal Waste Management Rule. For additional information on the Rule, read the FAQs from the New Jersey Department of Agriculture.

Farms with more than 8 animal units (1 animal unit = 1,000 pounds of live animal weight) must comply with the rules as well as complete an Animal Waste Management Plan (AWMP) for their farm.

Farms with fewer than 8 animal units must comply with the Animal Waste Management Rule but are not required to complete a formal AWMP.

What is an Animal Waste Management Plan?

An animal waste management plan consists of information about manure production, storage, and use. While some manure is often disposed off site, all manure remaining on the farm should be spread according to a plan that distributes manure nutrients on land according to the uptake rate of the various crops or grasses on the farm.

How Do I Develop an Animal Waste Management Plan?

Livestock owners have two options when developing a State-compliant AWMP:

1. Follow the steps recommended by the Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station (NJAES), then use the Rutgers NJAES Animal Waste Management Planner. A CD of the program for offline use is also available from your local Rutgers Cooperative Extension office or your local Soil Conservation District office.
    
2. Use the resources in the book On-Farm Strategies to Protect Water Quality. This book will tell you how to prepare a paper copy of your AWMP.

For additional information about developing AWMPs, contact your local Rutgers Cooperative Extension office or visit your local Soil Conservation District office. Check the Educational Meeting Dates for information about a meeting near you.

When is the Deadline for AWMP Completion?

March 2010: All farms must comply with the General Rule.

September 2010: AWMPs must be completed.

March 2012:  All Best Management Practices required in AWMPs must be completed.

For additional information about AWMP completion timelines, refer to the NJDA Rule Requirement Timelines document.

Additional Resources

New Jersey Animal Waste Management Requirements

Where Do I Go for Help?

Educational Meeting Dates