Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) helps farmers and forest landowners conserve our natural resources including providing clean air and preventing adverse atmospheric change. There are six natural resource concerns and opportunities on farm and forest lands related to air quality: Particulate Matter Emissions (including coarse and fine particles, smoke, dust, and off-site effects from wind erosion) Ozone Precursor Emissions Ammonia Emissions Odors Chemical Drift Greenhouse Gases and Carbon Sequestration
Air Emissions Regulations
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets National Ambient Air Quality Standards. Click here to learn more about Agricultural (Ag) Air Emissions and conservation practices to help reduce them.
These Hybrid Poplars were planted next to a layer house for particulate matter and visual screening. After 2 growing seasons, most of these hybrid poplars were 12’ – 15’ tall. Additional rows of conifers were planted adjacent to the hybrid poplars.
Useful Tools to Help You Implement Air Quality Practices
National Air Quality Site Assessment Tool (NAQSAT) - Is an interactive web based tool intended to provide planning assistance to livestock and poultry producers in determining the areas in the operations where there are opportunities to make changes that result in reduced air emissions. Click this link to access the training information on how to use the tool
Input Data Sheets (Use at sites with no wireless access)
COMET-VR Carbon Sequestration Tool- a user-friendly, web-based tool that provides estimates of carbon sequestration and net greenhouse gas emissions from soils and biomass for US farms and ranches.
USDA Agricultural Air Quality Task Force Web Site - This site serves as a repository of information about the task force, and provides public access to Federal Register notices, meeting minutes, reports and documents, and official communiqués from and about the task force.
Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Odor Management Program - Act 38 of 2005 (also referred to as the Nutrient and Odor Management Act), placed the responsibility on the Pennsylvania State Conservation Commission to establish standards for developing and implementing effective odor management plans. This law requires the implementation of an approved odor management plan for all new Concentrated Animal Operations (CAO) and Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO) that build new or expand existing structures that house animals or store manure.
