Code of Maine Rules
01 - DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY
001 - AGRICULTURE - GENERAL
Chapter 600 - RULES REGARDING DISPOSAL OF CULL POTATO PILES
CULL POTATO DISPOSAL BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
Section 001-600-7 - CULL POTATO ENSILING BMP

Universal Citation: 01 ME Code Rules ยง 001-600-7

Current through 2024-38, September 18, 2024

This BMP provides acceptable procedures for utilizing cull potatoes as part of an ensiling mix, for animal feed.

Cold Weather Temporary Cull Potato Storage Criteria (prior to being ensiled): Any temporary storage of cull potatoes, between the dates of October 1 and the following March 1, must be in accordance with the Cold Weather Temporary Cull Potato Storage BMP.

Warm Weather Temporary Cull Potato Storage Criteria (prior to being ensiled): Any temporary storage of cull potatoes, between the dates of March 1 and October 1 of the same year, must be in accordance with the Warm Weather Temporary Cull Potato Storage BMP.

Cull Potato Ensiling Site Criteria:

a. Cull Potato Ensiling Operations that are not self contained (where leachate will be generated and discharged to the soil) must be sited upon well drained, deep (40 inches or more to the seasonal water table and bedrock), non-sandy soils. This criteria can be met by the natural soil conditions or by modifying the site such as lowering the water table or adding fill.

b. Cull Potato Ensiling Operations that are self contained (where leachate will be generated but will not be discharged to the soil) have no minimum soil conditions for siting.

Cull Potato Ensiling Site Setback Criteria: Cull potato ensiling sites must be set back a minimum of 100 feet from neighboring dwellings, property lines, wells, springs, water bodies, streams, gullies, swales, ravines and downslope diversions (those not associated with construction of the ensiling site).

Cull Potato Ensiling Site Slope Criteria: Cull potato ensiling sites shall be constructed on finished slopes which do not exceed 6 percent.

Cull Potato Ensiling Site Covering Criteria: All cull potatoes which are in the process of being ensiled must immediately be covered in a manner so as to prevent potato sprouting and the potential for spreading of disease, as well as to facilitate the ensiling process. Acceptable covering methods include, but are not limited to; a minimum of 6 inches of sawdust, 12 inches of soil, or 6 mill black plastic polyethylene, all of which must completely cover the potatoes being ensiled and must be secured and remain in place.

Cull Potato Ensiling Mix and Procedure Criteria: In order to create ensilage to be used as an animal feed, a bulking agent must be mixed with the cull potatoes. Refer to the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, fact sheet " Feeding Potatoes to Livestock" for bulking agents.

Cull Potato Ensiling Site Construction Criteria:

a. Cull Potato Ensiling sites which are not self contained shall be constructed in accordance with the Site Construction Criteria of the Controlled Long Term Cull Potato Storage BMP.

b. Cull Potato Ensiling Sites which are self contained (non discharge) have no minimum site construction criteria.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Maine may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.