Lesson 35: Records and Sampling

Environmental Stewardship Assessment:

The goal of this assessment is to help you confidentially evaluate environmental issues related to your land application record and sampling programs. For each issue listed in the left column, indicate the statement that best describes management practices used on your farm.

Name of Operation:

Date:

Records

1. Manure sampling and analysis

Data collection and record-keeping program is incomplete, inconsistent, or nonexistent. Corresponding magnitude of risk

Data collection and record-keeping program has been developed and will be fully implemented in near future.

Data collection program has been implemented,
AND
complete records are available for past five years (or will soon be available with current record-keeping program).

2. Soil sampling and analysis

Data collection and record-keeping program is incomplete, inconsistent, or nonexistent. Corresponding magnitude of risk

Data collection and record-keeping program has been developed and will be fully implemented in near future.

Data collection program has been implemented,
AND
complete records are available for past five years (or will soon be available with current record-keeping program).

3. Plant tissue sampling and analysis

Data collection and record-keeping program is incomplete, inconsistent, or nonexistent. Corresponding magnitude of risk

Data collection and record-keeping program has been developed and will be fully implemented in near future.

Data collection program has been implemented,
AND
complete records are available for past five years (or will soon be available with current record-keeping program).

4. Record of manure applicator calibration results

Data collection and record-keeping program is incomplete, inconsistent, or nonexistent.
Corresponding magnitude of risk

Data collection and record-keeping program has been developed and will be fully implemented in near future.

Data collection program has been implemented,
AND
complete records are available for past five years (or will soon be available with current record-keeping program).

5. Manure application records

Data collection and record-keeping program is incomplete, inconsistent, or nonexistent. Corresponding magnitude of risk

Data collection and record-keeping program has been developed and will be fully implemented in near future.

Data collection program has been implemented,
AND
complete records are available for past five years (or will soon be available with current record-keeping program).

6. Crop yield records

Data collection and record-keeping program is incomplete, inconsistent, or nonexistent. Corresponding magnitude of risk

Data collection and record-keeping program has been developed and will be fully implemented in near future.

Data collection program has been implemented,
AND
complete records are available for past five years (or will soon be available with current record-keeping program).

7. Manure storage level records

Data collection and record-keeping program is incomplete, inconsistent, or nonexistent. Corresponding magnitude of risk

Data collection and record-keeping program has been developed and will be fully implemented in near future.

Data collection program has been implemented,
AND
complete records are available for past five years (or will soon be available with current record-keeping program).

8. Use of records

Records on most previous topics are incomplete or nonexistent. Corresponding magnitude of risk

Records on most previous topics are maintained but are available for only the past one or two years
OR
available but are not used in developing next year’s manure utilization plan.

Records on most previous topics are annually reviewed, summarized, and used to modify next year’s manure utilization plan.

Soil Sampling Practices

9. Soil sample procedures

Two or less of the “Low-Risk” soil sampling practices have been implemented. Corresponding magnitude of risk

At least three of the “Low-Risk” soil sampling practices have been implemented.

A single sample should include at least 15 cores taken randomly or on a grid.

A single sample should represent no more than 20 acres.

Individual samples should represent obviously different slopes, soil colors, and soil textures if those areas are to be fertilized independently.

Sample depth is appropriate for specific planned crop.

Samples are collected with only stainless-steel, chromeplated, or plastic tools and buckets.

Manure Sampling Practices

10. Frequency of manure sampling

Manure sampling is nonexistent or inconsistent. Corresponding magnitude of risk

Manure sampling is done annually.

Manure samples are collected each season that significant amounts of manure are land applied.

11. Representative Samples Taken? Anaerobic lagoons

Sample is taken from a single location. Corresponding magnitude of risk

Some but not all of “Low-Risk” sampling practices are implemented.

Sample submitted to lab is pooled from eight samples taken from lagoon perimeter at depths of about 1 ft to about 6 ft from the bank.

12. Slurry manure from storage or below barn manure pit

Sample is taken from single location or single time during pumpout. Corresponding magnitude of risk

A pooled sample includes samples from < eight locations or is sampled < eight times during pumpout.

Samples are taken during or immediately following agitation.
OR
A pooled sample is collected from eight locations with a sampler that collects a profile base upon depth.
OR
A pooled sample is collected at eight evenly spaced times during storage pumpout.

13. Solid manure

Sample is taken from single location or single time during during open lot cleaning. Corresponding magnitude of risk

A pooled sample includes samples from fewer than eight locations or is sampled fewer than eight times during open lot cleaning.

A pooled sample is collected from eight locations within a manure or compost pile that are representative of the full depth of the pile.
OR
A pooled sample is collected from at least eight locations of a drylitter or bedded pack manure in a barn.
OR
A pooled sample is collected at eight evenly spaced times during open lot cleaning.

	Data collection and record-keeping program is incomplete, inconsistent, or nonexistent.	Corresponding magnitude of risk
	Data collection and record-keeping program has been developed and will be fully implemented in near future.
	Data collection program has been implemented, AND complete records are available for past five years (or will soon be available with current record-keeping program).

	Records on most previous topics are incomplete or nonexistent.	Corresponding magnitude of risk
	Records on most previous topics are maintained but are available for only the past one or two years OR available but are not used in developing next year’s manure utilization plan.
	Records on most previous topics are annually reviewed, summarized, and used to modify next year’s manure utilization plan.

	Manure sampling is nonexistent or inconsistent.	Corresponding magnitude of risk
	Manure sampling is done annually.
	Manure samples are collected each season that significant amounts of manure are land applied.

	Sample is taken from a single location.	Corresponding magnitude of risk
	Some but not all of “Low-Risk” sampling practices are implemented.
	Sample submitted to lab is pooled from eight samples taken from lagoon perimeter at depths of about 1 ft to about 6 ft from the bank.

	Sample is taken from single location or single time during pumpout.	Corresponding magnitude of risk
	A pooled sample includes samples from < eight locations or is sampled < eight times during pumpout.
	Samples are taken during or immediately following agitation. OR A pooled sample is collected from eight locations with a sampler that collects a profile base upon depth. OR A pooled sample is collected at eight evenly spaced times during storage pumpout.

	Sample is taken from single location or single time during during open lot cleaning.	Corresponding magnitude of risk
	A pooled sample includes samples from fewer than eight locations or is sampled fewer than eight times during open lot cleaning.
	A pooled sample is collected from eight locations within a manure or compost pile that are representative of the full depth of the pile. OR A pooled sample is collected from at least eight locations of a drylitter or bedded pack manure in a barn. OR A pooled sample is collected at eight evenly spaced times during open lot cleaning.

Net Survey Score:
Magnitude of risk: