UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Everyday farm management practices affect the water quality around Pennsylvania's farms. Two new publications from Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences will help producers protect water quality by focusing on silage storage and animal waste storage.

The publications are part of the Farm-A-Syst series, which is designed to help farmers learn more about their farming practices and facilities and how they are protecting water quality for farm families and neighboring residents.

"Farm-A-Syst Worksheet 8: Silage Storage Management" is an eight-page publication that helps farmers evaluate water protection related to silage storage and handling conditions. The worksheet utilizes criteria such as crop moisture content, storage location, silo condition and effluent disposal.

More than 7 million tons of corn silage were harvested and stored in Pennsylvania in 2000. "When properly harvested and stored, silage poses little or no pollution threat," says author Les Lanyon, professor of soil science and management. "However, improper silage-making and storage can result in liquid effluents that affect water. Poor silage management also can cause gases, malodors, undesirable microorganisms and waste or spoiled silage."

"Farm-A-Syst Worksheet 9: Animal Waste Storage and Management" is an eight-page document that provides farmers with step-by-step methods to analyze their farm's site conditions, waste facilities, storage capacity and management procedures.

"Almost every livestock farm stores manure at some time during the year," says Lanyon. "Runoff from livestock production facilities can carry manure, soil, microorganisms and other potential pollutants. If not managed properly, animal wastes can negatively affect water quality and human health."

Both publications show how an evaluation of site conditions and farm facilities can aid in developing personal, voluntary action plans that reduce pollution risks for farm families and neighboring residents.

Farm-A-Syst is a cooperative effort of Penn State Cooperative Extension, Pennsylvania Natural Resources Conservation Service and other state agriculture and conservation agencies. The program regularly produces publications on farm management and water resource issues.

Single copies of Worksheet 8 and Worksheet 9 can be obtained free of charge by contacting any Penn State Cooperative Extension county office, or by calling the College of Agricultural Sciences Publications Distribution Center at 814-865-6713. Copies of these and other farm management publications also can be found on the Web at http://pubs.cas.psu.edu/subject.html. More information on the Pennsylvania Farm-A-Syst program is available at http://cropsoil.psu.edu/Extension/FAS/FAShomepage.htm.

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EDITORS: For more information, contact Dr. Les Lanyon, professor of soil science and management at 814-863-1614 or lel@psu.edu.

Contact: Amanda Yeager aby104@psu.edu 814-865-3636 814-863-9877 fax #113

Chuck Gill cdg5@psu.edu 814-863-2713 814-863-9877 fax