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Success Story

Caribbean Emergency EQIP Success Story - Helping Puerto Rico’s Dairies Recover from Hurricane María

Topics
Caribbean AreaAnimalsWaterEnvironmental Quality Incentives Program
Publish Date
Morovis, PR, dairy roofs and covers damaged by hurricane Maria (left) and after NRCS-funded replacement in Oct 2019 (right)

In the aftermath of Hurricanes Irma and Maria in Sept. 2017, NRCS Caribbean implemented emergency EQIP practices to help our farmers repair damages caused by the storms. Emergency practices included obstruction removal, roofs & covers, and clearing & snagging (debris from streams).

Aerial photo of Morovis dairy barn after destroyed roofs and covers removed (top) and at bottom, Aerial photo of the dairy showing cattle safely covered after implementing NRCS' Roofs and Covers practice in Oct. 2019.
Aerial photos of Empresas Aulet's dairy barn after the roofs and covers destroyed by Hurricane Maria were removed (top, red outline shows extent of previous roof), and at bottom, aerial photo of the dairy showing the cattle safely covered after the farmer applied NRCS' Roofs and Covers practice in October 2019.

Three years after hurricane María, NRCS Caribbean Area is still working hard to help dairy farmers remove debris from collapsed structures and rebuild stronger to protect water quality. Two key conservation engineering practices assist with these efforts: Roofs and Covers (NRCS practice code 367) and Debris Removal (NRCS practice code 500).

The dairy industry is the number one farm industry in Puerto Rico. But confining dairy cows can potentially cause environmental problems if water is not handled properly on the farm. NRCS works with our dairy farmers to keep clean water clean by keeping rain water separate from the manure in animal confinement areas. A typical waste management system on a dairy farm consists of a waste storage pond and an irrigation system to spread the waste in the fields. After hurricane María, many dairies’ animal holding and feeding areas had their roofs destroyed. These areas were exposed to rain water, sending higher volumes of wastewater to storage ponds and increasing risks of wastewater overflow.

Building stronger and safer

One farm that NRCS assisted is Empresas Aulet dairy in Morovis, Puerto Rico. Empresas Aulet is owned by José “Pepe” Aulet, who started the dairy in July 1989 in Barahona ward. The 270-acre dairy farm milks about 250 cows, and they also farm about 128 acres in Vega Baja for hay production. NRCS helped the farmer replace around 14,000 square feet of damaged roofing, built to new and stronger standards to withstand higher wind speeds. Pepe is very happy with the new, stronger structure – his cows have the shade they need and the risk of water contamination is reduced.

“The assistance from NRCS has been of vital importance for the continuation of our farm and recovery from Hurricane María,” said Sr. Aulet.

Hurricane Maria-damaged roofs and covers at Empresas Aulet Dairy in Morovis, PR, before and after NRCS-funded roofs and covers repairs.
Left: Empresas Aulet dairy's cattle confinement area roofs & covers severely damaged by hurricane María (photo by Rafael Davila). Right: NRCS-funded new roofs and covers installed in Oct. 2019 to safely confine cattle and protect water quality (photo by Eng. Alberto Atienza).

Contact

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