United States Department of Agriculture 375-CPS-1

NRCS, NHCP

July 2021

NRCS reviews and periodically updates conservation practice standards. To obtain the current 

version of this standard, contact your Natural Resources Conservation Service State office or 

visit the Field Office Technical Guide online by going to the NRCS website at 

https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/ and type FOTG in the search field. 

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Natural Resources Conservation Service 

CONSERVATION PRACTICE STANDARD 

DUST MANAGEMENT FOR PEN SURFACES 

CODE 375 

(ac)

DEFINITION 

Reducing or preventing the emissions of particulate matter (i.e., dust) arising from animal activity on pen

surfaces at animal feeding operations. 

PURPOSE 

This practice is used to accomplish the following purpose: 

• Reduce emissions of particulate matter 

CONDITIONS WHERE PRACTICE APPLIES 

This practice applies to any pen surface (e.g., open lot area, holding pen, corral, working alley, or other

similar area where animals are confined) that may be subject to animal activity at animal feeding

operations (AFOs). It is particularly important for AFOs in drier climates located close to major roadways

and/or populated areas. 

CRITERIA 

General Criteria Applicable to All Purposes 

Prior to installation of this practice, incorporate a dust prevention and control strategy for mitigating dust

emissions from animal activity on pen surfaces into the conservation plan. 

Additional Criteria for Manure Harvesting 

When manure harvesting is a planned activity for mitigating dust emissions from animal activity on pen

surfaces, incorporate a manure harvesting section into the conservation plan. 

Remove manure from pen surfaces at least once a year (manure cleanout). Additionally, conduct more

frequent manure harvesting according to the schedule identified in the manure harvesting section of the

conservation plan. When harvesting manure, leave a layer of 1 to 2 inches of well­compacted manure

above the mineral soil in the pen surface. 

Additional Criteria for Increased Stocking Density 

When normal animal stocking densities do not supply sufficient moisture for dust management through

manure and urine addition, increase animal stocking density by either adding animals to the pen or

reducing pen surface area (i.e., fencing) without reducing per animal feed bunk space. 

Additional Criteria for Mobile Water Application 

Apply water with tanker trucks or trailers equipped with hoses or nozzles designed to apply water at rates

and amounts that achieve the intended reduction in dust emissions, while avoiding excessive runoff or
ponding on pen surfaces. The minimum design application amount is equal to the maximum total daily wet

soil evaporation, with allowances for moisture input to pen surfaces from animal manure and urine. 

Water supply 

Ensure the water supply of the animal feeding operation is adequate and available to meet other operating

needs during operation of the mobile system. If temporary water storage is required to meet the flow rate

required for proper sprinkler operation, meet the applicable design criteria in other NRCS Conservation

Practice Standards (CPSs), such as Irrigation Reservoir (Code 436), Pond (Code 378), or Waste Storage

Facility (Code 313) for the temporary water storage. 

Water quality 

Use wastewater or fresh water for dust control. 

CONSIDERATIONS 

Some sites may require an approach that uses a combination of measures for dust management. For

example, manure harvesting can reduce water application demand as there is less organic material on the

open lot surface. Less organic material requires less water to increase the moisture content of the surface

material. 

Pull-type manure harvesting equipment, such as a box scraper, allows for a more even, smooth surface

than push-type manure equipment, such as a front-end loader. A more even, smooth surface is preferable

to allow for proper moisture management on the pen surface. 

Pen surface shaping and smoothing of animal holding areas may be applied to prevent water ponding and

chronic wet areas. Water ponding and chronic wet areas can increase emissions of other air pollutants,

such as ammonia, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), odorous sulfur compounds, methane, and nitrous

oxide. 

To minimize the potential for odor emissions while also reducing dust emissions, maintain moisture

content in the pen surface between 25 to 40 percent. 

In areas where the water supply is limited, mobile water applications can be more efficient if applied in late

afternoon, which is just prior to the normal time for significant animal activity and weather conditions that

typically contribute to dust impacts. 

To improve the efficiency of dust mitigation efforts, conduct manure harvesting and mobile water

application with consideration of forecasted or anticipated weather conditions. For example, conducting

mobile water applications prior to a predicted wind event can reduce the amount of dust generated from

the pen surface. 

A solid-set dust control sprinkler system may be installed under NRCS CPS Sprinkler System (Code 442)

to provide additional moisture to the pen surface. 

For animal facilities where it is practical to grow vegetative cover, consider the use of NRCS CPSs Critical

Area Planting (Code 342) or Heavy Use Area Protection (Code 561) to establish vegetation or protect the

surface from damage by animals and reduce fugitive dust generated from animal use of the area. 

NRCS CPS Mulching (Code 484) may also be used with or without the establishment of vegetative cover

to reduce dust generated from animal activity. 

Consider the use of barriers placed at right angles to prevailing wind currents at intervals of about 15

times the barrier height. Windbreaks, shelterbelts, solid fences, snow fences, burlap fences, crate walls,

bales of hay, tire bales, and similar material can be used to control air currents and blown soil. For detailed

windbreak and shelterbelt criteria, see NRCS CPS Windbreak/Shelterbelt Establishment (Code 380). 

-CPS-2

NRCS, NHCP

375

July 2021
For areas that are not subject to animal activity, additional practices, such as applying mulch (NRCS CPS

Mulching (Code 484)), establishing vegetation (NRCS CPSs Critical Area Planting (Code 342) or Heavy

Use Area Protection (Code 561)), use of environmentally acceptable dust suppressants (NRCS CPS Dust

Control on Unpaved Roads and Surfaces (Code 373)), and the use of wind barriers (NRCS CPS

Windbreak/Shelterbelt Establishment (Code 380)) may be applied to provide additional dust control. 

PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS 

Prepare plans and specifications for applying this practice for each pen surface and record them using

approved practice specifications, job sheets, or other acceptable documentation with narrative statements

that describe the site-specific details of the installation, including— 

• Dust control plan that includes information on the operation and maintenance plan. 

• Plan view map identifying areas of dust emissions and management methods to be employed. 

OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE 

Record the following activities and weather information, as applicable: 

• Daily precipitation 

• Manure removal quantities and dates for manure harvesting 

• Animal stocking densities, and dates and times for mobile water application 

• Conduct annual self-inspection of dust management activities and add findings to the dust

prevention and control plan 

Make changes to the dust prevention and control strategy for mitigating dust emissions from animal

activity on pen surfaces in the site conservation plan as necessary. 

Modifications to activities and use of measures are allowed temporarily to accommodate emergency­level

contingencies such as wildfire, hurricane, drought, or flood as long as resource conditions are maintained. 

REFERENCES 

Auvermann, B.W. 2001. Lesson 42: Controlling Dust and Odor from Open-Lot Livestock Facilities. In:

Livestock and Poultry Environmental Stewardship Curriculum (R. Koelsch and F. Humenik, eds.), MidWest

Plan Service, Ames, IA. 

Auvermann, B.W., D.B. Parker, and J.M. Sweeten. 2000. Manure Harvesting Frequency – The Key to

Feedyard Dust Control in a Summer Drought. Extension Service Publication E­52. Texas A&M AgriLife

Extension Service. College Station, TX. 

Bush, K.J., K.R. Heflin, G.W. Marek, T.C. Bryant, and B.W. Auvermann. 2014. Increasing Stocking Density

Reduces Emissions of Fugitive Dust from Cattle Feedyards. Applied Engineering in Agriculture, Vol 30(5),

815-824. ISSN 0883-8542 DOI 10.13031/aea.30.10681. 

Mukhtar, S. and B.W. Auvermann. 2009. Improving the Air Quality of Animal Feeding Operations with

Proper Facility and Manure Management. Extension Service Publication E­585. Texas A&M AgriLife

Extension Service. College Station, TX. 

Rahman, S., S. Mukhtar, and R. Wiederholt. 2008. Managing Odor Nuisance and Dust from Cattle

Feedlots. Extension Service Publication NM­1391. North Dakota State University Extension Service.

Fargo, ND. 

-CPS-3

NRCS, NHCP

375

July 2021