Water Testing and Ag Water Quality
Water Testing and Ag Water Quality
Water is the most important nutrient for maintenance of life and poor water quality can affect the production of cattle. There are sources of information available to help provide high quality water to your cattle and places to have your water tested.
In addition, if you own over 10 acres of contiguous land that will be used for agriculture or silviculture, you are required to file an ag water quality plan.
Kentucky Water Quality Act
- The Kentucky Water Quality Act is located at https://water.ca.uky.edu/kawqa
- Brochure on the Ag Water Quality Act-The Kentucky Agriculture Water Quality Act (uky.edu)
Water Quality Resources
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The Division of Water Quality in the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet performs a number of critical functions to help prevent and address problems with water pollution - Division of Water - Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet
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The University of Kentucky has an extensive webpage concerning Water Quality, Management and Conservation - Water Quality | Environmental & Natural Resource Issues (uky.edu)
Kentucky Agricultural Water Plan Information
- Document to create an Agriculture Water Quality Plan (AWQP). Note: If you have more than one farm, you may want to complete an AWQP for each farm. - Agriculture Water Quality Plan (https://www.uky.edu/bae/awqp)
Nutrient Management
- Water Quality and Nutrient Management Publications from UK - ANR Publications | Agriculture and Natural Resources (uky.edu)
Restricting Livestock Access/Steam Buffer Management
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ID-175: Riparian Buffers A Livestock Best Management Practice for Protecting Water Quality (uky.edu)
Drinking Water
- KY Agriculture Water Quality Plan information (https://www.uky.edu/bae/awqp) This link to our internal site will get them additional tools and resources
- Information for producers on managing manure
- Information related to water testing for livestock
- Link to UK publication ID-170 Drinking Water Guidelines for Cattle http://www2.ca.uky.edu/agcomm/pubs/id/id170/id170.pdf
- Link to certified labs in KY - https://www.watersystemscouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/KY-Cert-Labs-103117.pdf
- Example lab that is often utilized for analysis - https://watersag.com/service/water-analysis-2/
Water Testing Resources
- A list of water testing laboratories is available: - https://www.watersystemscouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/KY-Cert-Labs-103117.pdf
- One laboratory that is frequently used for agriculture water quality analysis is located in Owensboro - Water Analysis - Water Agricultural Laboratories, INC. (watersag.com)
