Fertilizers play a vital role in agriculture by dramatically increasing crop production. Along with these benefits comes the responsibility to properly store and handle fertilizers to reduce health and environmental risks

Extension, USU

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This survey will help you identify some common risksthat fertilizer storage and application practices canpose to drinking and surface water on your farmsteador acreage. The survey asks a series of questions aboutspecific practices or conditions that should beaddressed to reduce the risk of water contamination.The results of this survey are intended to providegeneral information and recommendations regardingfarmstead practices and potential risks to water   qual-ity. Keep this survey as your private record and use itas a guide to taking action to reduce risks.U t a h  F a r m s t e a d  A s s e s s m e n t  f o r  G r o u n d  W a t e r  a n d  S u r f a c e  W a t e r  P r o t e c t i o n  LANDOWNER’S SURVEY:WHAT’S THE RISK TO YOUR WATER FROMFERTILIZER CONTAMINATION?Revised March 2012Fertilizers play a vital role in agriculture by dramatically increasing crop production.Along with these benefits comes the responsibility to properly store and handlefertilizers to reduce health and environmental risks. Excessive application rates, spills in the storage area, and even seeminglyinsignificant spills during mixing and loading can lead to fertilizer movement intoground or surface waters. If contamination reaches drinking water sources, thenitrates in the fertilizer can pose serious health risks, especially for infants. Excessnutrients can also lead to surface water problems such as fish kills.See Glossary in Fact Sheet #6 for clarif ication of terms in this survey.HOW TO USE THIS SURVEYSurvey 3I N S I D E :USING THIS SURVEYTAKE THE SURVEYASSESSING YOUR RISKINTERPRETING YOURRISKFor each question circle the answer that best describes your situation. At the end of each section add the numbers that correspond to each answer. When you have completed the survey, add the section totals for thetotal risk assessment score.Mixing and Loading Practices1.  On what type of surface do you mix or load fertilizer? concrete or asphalt pad with curbs (1)concrete or asphalt pad without curbs (2)soil or gravel (3)2.  What is the minimum distance between the fertilizermixing/loading area and your well or surface water?greater than 100 feet (1)between 20 and 100 feet (2)less than 20 feet (3)3.  Are all fertilizer mixing/loading areas downslope fromthe water well?Yes (1)No (3)4.  How often is someone present during liquid fertilizermixing/loading to prevent spills and other problems? don’t use liquid fertilizers (0)always (1)most of time (2)start mixing, leave and return after set time (3)5.  Have you ever had a spill that you did not clean up?No (1)Yes (3)Mixing and Loading Practices section total _________6.  Is there a roof over your fertilizer storage area?Yes (1)No (3)7.  Is your fertilizer stored within 100 feet of:a water well?          No (1)Yes (3)surface water?          No (1)Yes (3)8.  Is your fertilizer storage locked to prevent accidentalspilling or vandalism?Yes (1)No (3)9.  What type of floor does your fertilizer storage have?sealed concrete floor with curbs (1)unsealed concrete floor (2)soil or gravel floor (3)10.  Are there inside drains in the fertilizer storage area?No (1)Yes, drain has sump (1)Yes, drain runs to city sewer (2)Yes, drain runs in back of building (3)11.  Are there any leaks or drips from liquid fertilizer tanks,valves, pump seals, etc.?don’t use liquid fertilizer (0)never (1)sometimes (2)frequently (3)12.  Is dry fertilizer exposed to weather or running water?don’t use dry fertilizer (0)never (1)sometimes (2)frequently (3)Storage section total __________SURVEY INSTRUCTIONS2Storage13.  Do you take precautions to clean up spilled fertilizerand reuse it as indicated?always clean up spilled fertilizer (1)clean up larger spills and some smaller spills (2)don’t clean up spilled fertilizer (3)14.  Where do you apply the rinsate from fertilizersprayers?field (1)farmyard, more than 100 feet from well orsurface water (2)farmyard, less than 100 feet from well or surface water (3)15.  Where do you clean your fertilizer applicationequipment?over a mixing/loading pad, or in a field (1)farmyard, more than 100 feet from well orsurface water (2)farmyard, less than 100 feet from well or surface water (3)16.  Where do you dispose of fertilizer bags?recycle or take to appropriate landfill (1)farm dump or burn pile on farm(3)Cleanup and Container Disposal section total _________17.  Do you have and follow a nutrient management planaccounting for nutrients added to soil in manure andfertilizer, and those removed in harvest?Yes (1)No (3)18.  Do you have your soil tested to determine the properamount of fertilizer to apply?soil is tested annually (1)soil is tested every 3-5 years (2)soil is never tested for nutrient levels (3)19.  Do you keep records of how much fertilizer is appliedeach year and what the results were on production?Yes (1)No (3)Application section total __________Cleanup and Container DisposalApplication3(circle Yes or No)Is the fertilizer storage area clean? Yes NoDo you keep a current fertilizer inventory on site?Yes NoAre bagged fertilizers stored off the floor, but still low tothe ground (eg. on a pallet)? Yes NoIs the fertilizer storage area labeled? Yes NoTotal number of Yes answers: __________Total number of No answers: __________If you had more Yes answers than No, the section total is1. If you had more No answers than Yes, the section totalis 3. If they were equal, the total is 2. Other Management section total __________Other Management ConsiderationsLocate your total risk score on the spectrum above to get a general idea of the risk fertilizer is posing to watersources on your farmstead or acreage. Next, compare your risk scores for each section with the ratings (Low, Moderate, and High) for the individualsections to determine the practices where your risk is moderate to high. For these sections go back into the survey and look at the questions you marked a high scoring choice. Theseare the areas you should address first to reduce risk of water contamination.SURVEY 3 TOTAL SCORETOTAL RISK LEVEL74 168 243Low Moderate HighAdd the following totals: Low Moderate HighMixing and Loading Practices section total _____ x 4 = ______ 16 40 60Storage section total _____ x 3 = ______ 18 46 63Cleanup and Container Disposal section total _____ x 4 = ______ 16 32 48Application section total _____ x 7 = ______ 21 42 63Other Management section total _____ x 3 = ______ 3 6 9SURVEY 3 TOTAL SCORE _____Fol low UpRefer to Fact Sheet #3-How to Protect Your WaterFrom Fertilizer Contamination for contacts andinformation about handling, storing and applyingfertilizers. Contact your Utah State University coun-ty Extension office, or the Extension web pagehttp://www.extension.usu.edu for more information.Utah State University is an affirmative action/equal opportunity institution.Extending USU to you.RISK RATINGINTERPRETING YOUR RISK RATING4

What\u27s the Risk to Your Water from Fertilizer Contamination? - Homeowner Survey

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What\u27s the Risk to Your Water from Fertilizer Contamination? - Homeowner Survey

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