Environmental Quality http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/category/environmental-quality.html en Fri, 01 May 2009 01:00:00 -0400 http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/rss/rss.html Poultry and Livestock Manure Storage: Management and Safety http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/442/442-308/442-308.html Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:43:36 -0500 http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/442/442-308/442-308.html Selection and Location of Poultry and Livestock Manure Storage http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/442/442-307/442-307.html If you raise dairy cows, broilers, layers, turkeys, horses, beef cattle, sheep, goats, alpacas, or swine for income or a hobby, you will have to deal with the manure they produce. The amount of manure produced by the birds or animals you keep depends on their type, age, size, and diet.

]]> Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:51:46 -0500 http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/442/442-307/442-307.html On Farm Mortality Disposal Options for Livestock Producers http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/2909/2909-1412/2909-1412.html Wed, 16 Sep 2009 10:30:06 -0400 http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/2909/2909-1412/2909-1412.html On-Site Sewage Treatment Alternatives http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/448/448-407/448-407.html The purpose of this publication is to describe on-site technologies for treating domestic sewage where conventional means (public sewer or septic tank with drainfield) are not available. These technologies are described as alternatives in this publication. Our goal is to provide information that can be used by property owners and residents to initiate action to rectify sewage-disposal problems, especially where current wastewater treatment is inadequate. This work is intended to provide information on alternative wastewater treatment options that will help the reader to make informed decisions when dealing with oversight agencies and contractors; it is not intended to serve as a stand-alone reference for design or construction.

]]> Wed, 01 Jul 2009 10:35:30 -0400 http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/448/448-407/448-407.html Mid-Atlantic Composting Directory http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/452/452-230/452-230.html Thu, 04 Jun 2009 10:35:44 -0400 http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/452/452-230/452-230.html Virginia Landowner’s Guide to the Carbon Market http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/442/442-138/442-138.html Thu, 28 May 2009 13:36:54 -0400 http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/442/442-138/442-138.html Selecting a Treatment Technology for Manure Management http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/442/442-306/442-306.html Thu, 14 May 2009 00:00:00 -0400 http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/442/442-306/442-306.html Virginia Tech Pesticide Programs http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/links/vtpp.html Mon, 11 May 2009 08:19:43 -0400 http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/links/vtpp.html Composting Your Organic Kitchen Wastes with Worms http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/442/442-005/442-005.html Every home kitchen generates food scraps for disposal. Throwing these scraps in the garbage can create odor problems and adds to the volume of waste going to the landfill. Disposing of kitchen scraps in a garbage disposal is convenient, but it adds to the burden of the waste-treatment system and throws away a potentially valuable resource. Furthermore, garbage disposals are not recommended for homes that rely on a septic system for waste disposal. A viable alternative to disposing of food scraps in the landfill or the sewer system is to compost them. The resulting material is a useful addition to gardens and potted plants.

]]> Fri, 01 May 2009 01:00:00 -0400 http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/442/442-005/442-005.html TMDLs (Total Maximum Daily Loads) - Terms and Definitions http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/442/442-550/442-550.html The definitions of TMDL-related terms presented here are intended to provide the reader with a working knowledge of terms that apply to Virginia's TMDL program. This is the first in a series of Virginia Cooperative Extension publications that deal specifically with TMDLs. The federal Clean Water Act requires States to develop TMDLs for streams, rivers, lakes and estuaries that do not or are not expected to meet applicable water quality standards. This glossary is designed to assist the reader in understanding and interpreting TMDL related information that may come from sources as varied as governmental agencies, environmental groups, consulting firms, or the news media.

]]> Fri, 01 May 2009 01:00:00 -0400 http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/442/442-550/442-550.html Microbial Source Tracking and the TMDL (Total Maximum Daily Loads) Process http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/442/442-554/442-554.html Microbial Source Tracking (MST), also commonly referred to as bacterial source tracking (BST), is a method used to determine the sources of fecal bacteria and establish whether fecal bacteria are being introduced into water bodies through human, wildlife, agricultural, or pet wastes. MST is considered to be a novel technology still in developmental stages. However, the use of MST is rapidly becoming widespread as more researchers and states are recognizing its potential.

]]> Fri, 01 May 2009 01:00:00 -0400 http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/442/442-554/442-554.html TMDLs (Total Maximum Daily Loads) for Bacteria Impairments http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/442/442-555/442-555.html A water-quality "impairment" exists if a body of water is unable to support its designated uses. (Italicized terms are defined in the boxes at the bottom of each page.) Virginia's water-quality standards specify that surface waters are either designated for "recreational use" (e.g., swimming, fishing, and boating) or "aquatic life use" (e.g., viable fishing populations). To support the "recreational use," the state sets numeric waterquality criteria for the maximum amount of bacteria in surface waters (Escherichia coli (E. coli)) for fresh water and enterococci for marine waters). When the concentration of bacteria exceeds the state-specified water-quality criteria, the water does not support the designated recreational use and is deemed to have a bacteria or pathogen impairment. E. coli and enterococci bacteria are found in the intestinal tracts and feces of warm-blooded animals, including humans. High counts of these bacteria indicate the presence of fecal contamination in water.

]]> Fri, 01 May 2009 01:00:00 -0400 http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/442/442-555/442-555.html TMDLs (Total Maximum Daily Loads) for Benthic Impairments http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/442/442-556/442-556.html "Benthic" refers to the aquatic organisms living in or on the bottom of a body of water. Benthic organisms include crayfish, aquatic snails, clams, leeches, aquatic worms, certain insect larvae and nymphs (e.g., mayflies, dragonflies), and adult aquatic insects (e.g., riffle beetles). Changes in water quality generally result in changes in the types, numbers, or diversity of the benthic community.

In general, a water quality "impairment" exists if a body of water does not support its designated uses. Italicized terms are defined in the boxes at the bottom of each page.

]]> Fri, 01 May 2009 01:00:00 -0400 http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/442/442-556/442-556.html Implementation: What Happens after the TMDL (Total Maximum Daily Load) is Developed? http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/442/442-559/442-559.html A TMDL, or total maximum daily load defines the total pollutant loading a water body can receive and still meet applicable water quality standards. (Italicized terms are defined in the boxes at the bottom of each page.) A TMDL equation is developed from a study that identifies the sources of a particular pollutant in a watershed, the pollutant contribution from each source, and the pollutant reduction required to attain and maintain water quality standards. In TMDL calculations, all identified sources of the particular pollutant are quantified, including both point and nonpoint sources of pollution. Because some TMDL calculations involve assumptions and professional judgment, TMDLs also include a margin of safety to account for uncertainty. (See TMDLs [Total Maximum Daily Loads]: Terms and Definitions, Virginia Cooperative Extension publication 442-550, http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/442-550/.)

]]> Fri, 01 May 2009 01:00:00 -0400 http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/442/442-559/442-559.html A Glossary of Water-Related Terms http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/442/442-758/442-758.html The definitions and associated explanations of water-related terms presented here are intended to provide the reader with a working knowledge of terms that apply to Virginia's water resources. The list is designed to assist the user in understanding and interpreting water related information that may come from sources as varied as governmental agencies, environmental groups, or the news media. While terms and definitions are fairly consistent, some terminology presented here could be defined differently to describe water resources issues in other locations.

]]> Fri, 01 May 2009 01:00:00 -0400 http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/442/442-758/442-758.html Steamside Livestock Exclusion: A tool for increasing farm income and improving water quality http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/442/442-766/442-766.html Did you know that livestock, like humans, prefer a clean water source and are healthier and more productive when they drink clean water? Virginia producers who have restricted or eliminated livestock access to streams and farm ponds and converted to a clean, alternative water source have observed increased livestock productivity, improved water quality, and restored stream banks on their farms. As a consequence, livestock stream exclusion practices are gaining popularity across Virginia. This publication, produced through the cooperation of Virginia Cooperative Extension and the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, describes the findings, experiences, and successes of individual producers who are limiting livestock stream access.

]]> Fri, 01 May 2009 01:00:00 -0400 http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/442/442-766/442-766.html Water Reuse: Using Reclaimed Water for Irrigation http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/452/452-014/452-014.html Water reuse can be defined as the use of reclaimed water for a direct beneficial purpose. The use of reclaimed water for irrigation and other purposes has been employed as a water conservation practice in Florida, California, Texas, Arizona, and other states for many years.

]]> Fri, 01 May 2009 01:00:00 -0400 http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/452/452-014/452-014.html Compost: What Is It and What's It To You http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/452/452-231/452-231.html Fri, 01 May 2009 01:00:00 -0400 http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/452/452-231/452-231.html On-Farm Composting - A Guide to Principles, Planning & Operations http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/452/452-232/452-232.html Fri, 01 May 2009 01:00:00 -0400 http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/452/452-232/452-232.html Closing the Loop: Public-Private Partnerships for On-Farm Composting of Yard Waste http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/452/452-233/452-233.html Fri, 01 May 2009 01:00:00 -0400 http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/452/452-233/452-233.html Agricultural Land Application of Biosolids in Virginia: Production and Characteristics of Biosolids http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/452/452-301/452-301.html Fri, 01 May 2009 01:00:00 -0400 http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/452/452-301/452-301.html Agricultural Land Application of Biosolids in Virginia: Regulations http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/452/452-302/452-302.html Fri, 01 May 2009 01:00:00 -0400 http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/452/452-302/452-302.html Agricultural Land Application of Biosolids in Virginia: Managing Biosolids for Agricultural Use http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/452/452-303/452-303.html Fri, 01 May 2009 01:00:00 -0400 http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/452/452-303/452-303.html Agricultural Land Application of Biosolids in Virginia: Risks and Concerns http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/452/452-304/452-304.html Fri, 01 May 2009 01:00:00 -0400 http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/452/452-304/452-304.html Agricultural Management Practices And Soil Quality http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/452/452-400/452-400.html Fri, 01 May 2009 01:00:00 -0400 http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/452/452-400/452-400.html Distiller's Grains for Dairy Cattle and Potential Environmental Impact http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/404/404-135/404-135.html Ethanol is produced when starch in corn grain is fermented. Most other constituents in the grain remain unchanged. The end product of the corn is distiller’s grains or DDGS (distiller’s grains with solubles). The DDGS retain the original fatty acids, protein, and phosphorus. In addition, variability in the grain nutrient content used in the fermentation process and the actual process itself results in a feed with variable nutrient content. Distiller’s grains can be fed either in the wet (less than 25 percent dry matter) or dry (greater than 85 percent dry matter) form. Wet DDGS are difficult to store and must be fed within a few days of production. The wet DDGS can be the most cost-effective, however, if used close to where they are produced.

]]> Fri, 01 May 2009 01:00:00 -0400 http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/404/404-135/404-135.html Urban Water-Quality Management Insect Pests of Water Garden Plants http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/426/426-040/426-040.html Aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae)

(numerous aquatic plants)

Aphids are often called plant lice. Several species are troublesome pests on above-water leaves (a), stems, and flower buds of aquatic plants. These sucking insects distort succulent new leaves, causing them to curl, wilt, or turn yellow. Adults are 1/8 inch long and can be winged (c) or wingless (b) with soft pear-shaped bodies with two distinctive cornicles or "tailpipes" protruding from the backs of their abdomens. 

]]> Fri, 01 May 2009 01:00:00 -0400 http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/426/426-040/426-040.html Groundwater Quality and the Use of Lawn and Garden Chemicals by Homeowners http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/426/426-059/426-059.html The people of Virginia use nearly 400 million gallons of groundwater each day to meet industrial, agricultural, public, and private water demands. One-third of Virginia's citizens rely on groundwater as their primary source of fresh drinking water, and 80 percent of Virginians use groundwater to supply some or all of their daily water needs. Groundwater is an important resource, but it is a hidden one and, therefore, is often forgotten. In fact, until recent incidents of groundwater contamination, little attention was paid to the need to protect Virginia's groundwater.

]]> Fri, 01 May 2009 01:00:00 -0400 http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/426/426-059/426-059.html Composting http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/426/426-325/426-325.html Composting is a degradation process brought about by bacteria and fungus organisms. Large amounts of organic kitchen, garden, lawn, and/or farm refuse can be reduced in a relatively short time to a pile of black, crumbly humus which makes an ideal soil conditioner. Compost added regularly to soil will inevitably benefit the soil. The soil's structure will improve, since humus contains substances which cause aggregation (sticking together) of soil particles. In a clay soil this means that the microscopic individual particles will be clumped together and more air spaces will be opened up between clumps. Without these air spaces the clay particles stick tightly to each other, forming a nearly impenetrable barrier to water and gases. 

]]> Fri, 01 May 2009 01:00:00 -0400 http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/426/426-325/426-325.html Pest Management for Water Quality http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/426/426-615/426-615.html Research has shown that consumers find reading and understanding the label to be the most difficult aspect of applying pesticides. However, an understanding of the label information is essential before work begins. The label printed on or attached to a container of pesticide tells how to use it correctly and warns of any environmental or health safety measures to take. Read the label when you purchase a pesticide and again before mixing or applying it. If you are confused about any part of the label, consult your Extension agent or a representative of the company that makes the product. Many pesticides now list a toll-free number for consumers. The label includes specific information that you should be aware of and learn to understand.

]]> Fri, 01 May 2009 01:00:00 -0400 http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/426/426-615/426-615.html Understanding the Science Behind Riparian Forest Buffers: An Overview http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/420/420-150/420-150.html Fri, 01 May 2009 01:00:00 -0400 http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/420/420-150/420-150.html Understanding the Science Behind Riparian Forest Buffers: Effects on Water Quality http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/420/420-151/420-151.html Fri, 01 May 2009 01:00:00 -0400 http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/420/420-151/420-151.html Understanding the Science Behind Riparian Forest Buffers: Effects on Plant and Animal Communities http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/420/420-152/420-152.html Fri, 01 May 2009 01:00:00 -0400 http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/420/420-152/420-152.html Understanding the Science Behind Riparian Forest Buffers: Benefits to Communities and Landowners http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/420/420-153/420-153.html Fri, 01 May 2009 01:00:00 -0400 http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/420/420-153/420-153.html Understanding the Science Behind Riparian Forest Buffers: Factors Influencing Adoption http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/420/420-154/420-154.html Fri, 01 May 2009 01:00:00 -0400 http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/420/420-154/420-154.html Understanding the Science Behind Riparian Forest Buffers: Planning, Establishment, and Maintenance http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/420/420-155/420-155.html Fri, 01 May 2009 01:00:00 -0400 http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/420/420-155/420-155.html Understanding the Science Behind Riparian Forest Buffers: Resources for Virginia Landowners http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/420/420-156/420-156.html Fri, 01 May 2009 01:00:00 -0400 http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/420/420-156/420-156.html Phosphorus, Agriculture & The Environment http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/424/424-029/424-029.html Phosphorus (P) is a naturally occurring element that can be found in the earth's crust, water, and all living organisms. Phosphorus (P) is one of 16 elements that are essential for plant growth. Soils in Virginia are naturally low in phosphorus, and most cropping systems on these soils require supplemental phosphorus to maximize their yield potential.

]]> Fri, 01 May 2009 01:00:00 -0400 http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/424/424-029/424-029.html Pesticides and Aquatic Animals: A Guide to Reducing Impacts on Aquatic Systems http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/420/420-013/420-013.html Fri, 01 May 2009 01:00:00 -0400 http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/420/420-013/420-013.html Pest Management Guide: Field Crops, 2009 http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/456/456-016/456-016.html Fri, 01 May 2009 01:00:00 -0400 http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/456/456-016/456-016.html