Horse Pasture Management


Purpose/Function:

Horse pasture management targets small equine operations that do not meet eligibility criteria for federal or state cost-share programs and currently may not participate in government programs. Agricultural BMPs for horse operations mainly address pasture and manure management issues. These practices may include pasture establishment or restoration, manure management and the establishment of watering troughs, stream fencing, pasture rotation systems and sacrifice lots/heavy use areas.

Initiation protocol:

Contact the Maryland Department of Agriculture and the local Soil Conservation District for information and assistance.

Implementation Factors (level of difficulty):

Moderate.

Funding Sources / Options:

Funding is currently available through the Chesapeake Bay Targeted Watersheds Grant Program awarded to the Maryland Department of Agriculture.

Costs:

Costs estimated as $ per acre of practice installed. 

Cost Estimates EPA MDA Average
Initial $195 $3,000 $1,597.50
Annual $3 $- $1.50
Lifespan (yrs) 15 5 10
Annualized $16 $600 $161.25

Note:  MDA indicates that their cost estimate should be used.

Load Reduction Efficiency:

Average Total Nitrogen removed per acre of practice per year = N/A

Average Total Phosphorous removed per acre of practice per year

Low

0.01 lbs.

Medium

0.10 lbs.

High

0.27 lbs.

Cost per pound removed = between $2,222 and $60,000

Average Total Suspended Solids removed per acre of practice per year

Low

1 lbs.

Medium

17 lbs.

High

323 lbs.

Cost per pound removed = between $1.86 and $600.00

Operation & Maintenance:

highly variable

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