4 DOPA credits through in local class

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  • Agriculture/ beef cattle/ file photo
    Agriculture/ beef cattle/ file photo
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In Texas, concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) are regulated by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).

The dairy outreach program area (DOPA) includes Bosque, Comanche, Erath, Hamilton, Hopkins, Johnson, Rains and Wood counties. Any CAFO with more than 300 animal units (more than 200 mature dairy cows) located in the DOPA must meet the following training and educational requirements:

  • Complete an initial eight-hour training course on animal waste management within 12 months after permitting or authorization.
  • Receive an additional eight hours of continuing education in animal waste management for each subsequent 24-month period.

Important: A CAFO may be considered out of compliance if these requirements are not met within the time periods specified.

To satisfy these requirements, Hopkins, Wood and Rains counties have scheduled the 2020 Northeast Texas Fall Dairy Conference at the Hopkins County Regional Civic Center in Sulphur Springs for Oct. 28, starting at 9:30 a.m. The conference will include four DOPA credits with the topics of recycled manure bedding, use of biochar, manure management options and soil testing for manure management plans. The cost of the conference is $10 with lunch sponsored by the Southwest Dairy Museum.

To register to the event or more information, please call the Hopkins County Extension Office at 903-885- 3443 or email m-villarino@tamu.edu.