ALBANY — New York Farm Bureau and the Northeast Dairy Producers Association will host a CAFO Roadshow in cooperation with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Department of Agriculture and Markets and Cornell PRO-DAIRY.
This series of four seminars across the state will highlight the changes in the recently released CAFO permits and help producers understand how to prepare for compliance and decide which permit is right for their farm. All CAFO farms must be covered by the new permit by July 24, 2017. CCA credits have been applied for.
All CAFO-permitted farms are recommended to attend one of the informational sessions where you will have the opportunity to both learn about changes and ask questions directly to the people who developed the permit. Farms of all sizes, particularly those who may be seeking coverage under the permits in the near future, are also encouraged to attend.
Dates and locations:
- Central NY — Friday, Feb. 17, 9:30 – 12 noon
Sunnyside Farm Shop, 2231 Indian Field Road, Scipio Center
Registration Deadline: Feb. 14Eastern NY — Tuesday, Feb. 21, 1:00 – 3:30 pm
Saratoga County CCE, 50 West High Street, Ballston Spa
Registration Deadline: Feb. 16 - Northern NY — Wednesday, Feb. 22, 1:00 – 3:30 pm
Jefferson County Fair Building Exhibition Hall at the Alex T. Duffy Fairgrounds
615 WTM Fields Drive, Watertown (Use 900 Coffeen Street for GPS). Entrance next to the Fairgrounds Inn
Registration Deadline: Feb. 17 - Western NY — Friday, March 3, 1:00 – 3:30 pm
Hidden Valley Animal Adventure, 2887 Royce Road, Varysburg, NY
Registration Deadline: Feb. 27
Check-in at each location starts half an hour in advance.
Registration:
Advance registration is required for attendance to ensure the locations can accommodate everyone. Please see deadlines below for each event. Space could be limited in some locations, so please register early. DO NOT call the locations to register. Register online or call New York Farm Bureau at 1-800-342-4143 and be prepared to provide details of who is coming and which event you will attend.
- Central NY Online Registration
- Eastern NY Online Registration
- Northern NY Online Registration
- Western NY Online Registration
Preparation:
We recommend that farms review the new permits in advance so you can fully take advantage of this opportunity to ask questions and receive clarification.
The ECL Permit is for farms that can demonstrate “no discharge” by operating and maintaining BMPs to prevent a discharge up to a 100-year, 24-hour storm event. A copy of the ECL Permit and theECL Permit Fact Sheet are posted online.
The CWA Permit requires a public noticing component. A copy of the CWA Permit and the CWA Permit Fact Sheet are posted online.
More information on the CAFO permits are also posted online.
The new permits both incorporate the Cornell Revised Winter and Wet Manure Spreading Guidelines, which may also be helpful to review in advance.
Please Note for Non-Farmers:
The focus for the CAFO Road Show is to offer the best environment for farmers and CAFO planners to hear directly from DEC about permit changes and allow them to ask questions that will improve their understanding to select the best permit for their operation and to optimize compliance.
We ask that agri-service and agency staff who are not directly involved with CAFO planning or current implementation with CAFO farms limit attendance at the four Roadshow events where farmers and their key conservation advisors are the target audience. We will place such agribusiness and agency staff on a waiting list for attendance, until we have a better sense of space and notify you before the event.
As an alternative, the NYS Conservation District Employees Association is offering a CAFO Update session at the Water Quality Symposium in March. This opportunity will allow more time for discussion and questions and is recommended for additional staff to learn more about the CAFO permits. Water Quality Symposium registration is online.
—Cornell University
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