6-D.2 EXHIBIT B.pdf

EXHIBIT “B”

Range Management Plan

Pasco County Environmental Land and Acquisition Management

Program Range Management Plan for Leased Pasture

Animal Units

General Guidelines

1) The interrelationship between the cattle and the pasture forage supply should be considered as documented in the University of Florida/Institute of Food and

Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) document Pasture Stocking Density and the

Relationship to Animal Performance, or the most recently published UF/IFAS guiding document.

2) A stocking density dependent on forage type is recommended as follows:

a) Bahia grass: one and half to four (1.5- 4) acres per cow;

b) Bermudagrass, stargrass, and limpograss: one to three (1- 3) acres per cow;

c) Native range: five to twenty-five (5- 25) acres per cow.

3) Grazing shall occur on a thirty (30) day rotational basis throughout the growing season to promote healthy pastures. Calving is highly recommended to occur for no more than a ninety (90) day period beginning in April with calves being removed in late fall.

Nutrient Management

Fertilizer Management

1) Use a soil test from a lab using the Mehlich-3 (M3), or another method approved by

UF/IFAS Extension Soil Testing Laboratory (ESTL), to determine Phosphorous (P) fertilization rate (See Extraction of Soil Nutrients Using Mehlich-3 Reagent for Acid-

Mineral Soils of Florida). Analyze the need for tissue testing based on the soil test results.

2) Follow the UF/IFAS recommended rates as documented in the UF/IFAS Standardized

Fertilization Recommendations for Agronomic Crops, or rates in the most recently published UF/IFAS guiding document for the particular forage. If using organic materials or manure, adjust the rate of supplemental fertilizer materials based on the product’s nutrient content analysis.

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/an155 http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/an155 http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss620 http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss620 http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss163 http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss163

3) Time fertilizer applications with plant growth to maximize nutrient uptake and to minimize leaching and runoff.

4) Prevent spreading fertilizer material in streams, sinkholes, or wetlands by maintaining at least a fifty (50) foot setback from these features.

Animal Nutrition and Feedstock

1) When using a high amount of supplemental feed, manage the operation so that nutrients in the feed will not lead to high rates of nutrient loads from waste. Keep in mind that livestock generally excrete sixty to eighty-five (60%-85%) of the phosphorus fed to them.

2) Locate any confined feeding areas at least one hundred (100) feet away from watercourses, wetlands, sinkholes or excessively sloped terrain. Ensure that filter strips or other conservation buffers are maintained between feeding areas and adjacent features

Animal Waste Management

1) Manage livestock distribution to reduce any concentrated accumulation of wastes that could lead to nutrients contaminating groundwater or surface waters.

Operation and Maintenance

1) Maintain and calibrate fertilizer application equipment properly.

2) Store fertilizers properly and in a safe location.

Alternative Cattle Water Sources

Water Needs Inventory

1) Inventory existing water sources and average herd size to ascertain the estimated water use (daily intake of water), to ensure that a seven (7) day supply of water is always available in herd management areas.

1) Maintain all wells, troughs, and other associated structures in good working order.

2) Monitor animal health and conduct water quality sampling and analysis if animals are affected by a waterborne illness.

3) Clean watering troughs frequently with diluted bleach.

Prescribed Grazing

Prescribed Grazing Guidelines

1) Manage forage grazing of pastures or paddocks based on established stubble heights to maintain plant vigor, prevent soil erosion, and maintain soil moisture levels. Base prescribed grazing schedules on the rate of plant growth, available forage and utilization, rather than on calendar dates. Carefully monitor available forage to ensure it is adequate to meet animal demand.

2) Use rotational grazing or other measures to give concentrated areas time for re-growth between grazing periods, and to achieve a more even manure distribution across the pasture. Additionally, the area may be “dragged” to spread the manure and return some organic matter back to the topsoil.

Drought Contingency Plan

1) During periods of drought when forage production is low to none, the livestock manager shall reduce the herd size or increase the paddock size and/or rotate the livestock through the grazing system at a “slower” than normal pace and/or feed a supplemental forage supply such as hay.

Comprehensive Prescribed Grazing

1) Initiate grazing only after the predominant forages have reached acceptable plant height(s), and rotate or remove livestock when grazing results in minimum leaf length(s) per Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Standard Practice as described in (NRCS Code 528) .. Plan the rest periods for predominant forages based on the season of the year.

1) Maintain all fences, wells, troughs and other associated structures in good working order.

2) If fences, wells, and troughs are damaged or not upheld to Environmental Land

Acquisition and Management Program (ELAMP) staff expectations, maintenance must occur within twenty-four (24) hours of discovery to bring items to proper condition.

3) Review and revise grazing management plans annually or as needed.

https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/sites/default/files/2025-07/528-nhcp-cps-grazing-management-2025-rev.pdf

Fence Installation

1) Maintain all fences, watering troughs, and shade structures in good working order to prevent animals from congregating in waterbodies.

High Intensity Areas

1) Inspect fencing and structures regularly and make necessary repairs.

2) Periodically clean or remove excess manure from these areas.

3) Inspect these areas after severe weather events to ensure runoff has been properly contained or diverted.

4) Use agronomic practices to re-vegetate denuded areas.

Animal Mortality

Sanitation and Disease Control Measures

1) Transport carcasses in a sanitary manner to prevent spreading infection.

2) Clean and disinfect any mechanical equipment surfaces that were in contact with the carcasses, especially if you suspect a more virulent disease organism to be the cause of death.

3) Report any of the dangerous diseases listed below to the State Veterinarian per the requirements in section 585.18, F.S.

Anthrax Pseudorabies Bont Tick Infestation Rabies Bovine Piroplasmosis Rhipicephalus microplus Bovine Spongiform Rift Valley Fever Brucellosis (B. abortus, B. suis) Rinderpest Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia Salmonella Enteritidis Encephalopathy Scabies Foot and Mouth Disease Screwworm infestation Heartwater Southern Cattle Tick Infestation Lumpy Skin Disease Tuberculosis Peste des Petits Ruminants Vesicular Stomatitis

Disposal

1) Move carcasses to an upland area away from watercourses, streams, wetlands, wells, or sinkholes.

http://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2015/Chapter585/All

2) If a suitable site is available, locate any burial site at least fifty (50) feet away from adjacent property owners, and at least two hundred (200) feet away from watercourses, streams, wetlands, wells or sinkholes. Identify this area on a map and keep the map handy for future reference.

Wellhead Protection

1) Try to maintain permanent vegetation within a seventy-five (75) foot radius around wells.

2) Inspect wellheads and pads regularly for leaks or cracks and make any necessary repairs.

3) Testing drinking water wells may be required dependent on the annual review of site conditions for coliform bacteria contamination and other contaminants to protect public health.

Wetlands and Springs Protection

Water Quality Treatment and Field Discharges

1) Minimize adverse water quality impacts to receiving wetlands by using pretreatment practices such as filter strips, conservation buffers, swales, or holding water onsite.

This can substantially reduce pollutants, especially suspended solids, and allow the wetland to more naturally assimilate nutrients.

2) Rotate livestock through the wetland grazing system at an accelerated pace when excessive rainfall or mud becomes a persistent problem.

1) Limit the use of pesticides and fertilizers in and around wetlands and springs and be careful to avoid spray drift impacts.

Prescribed Burning and Wildfires

Prescribed Burn Preparation

1) Any prescribed burning will be reviewed and deemed necessary at the time of annual review.

2) Develop and implement a burn prescription plan that includes emergency contingencies or enlist the help of a Certified Prescribed Burn Manager to conduct prescribed burns.

3) Ensure no burning bans are in effect, and that the proper permits, certification, and landowner permission are obtained prior to burning. Prescribed burns must be conducted in accordance with Florida Division of Forestry rules and section 590.125, F.S.

4) If applicable, use burning in conjunction with roller chopping when developing pastures in native areas that have an abundance of palmettos.

5) Burn only when weather conditions are favorable. Check wind conditions to ensure smoke from the burn will not adversely impact roadways or neighboring properties.

Never leave a burn unattended.

Operation and Maintenance for Prescribe or Wildfires

1) Maintain soil stabilization practices until vegetation is re-established.

2) Check fence posts and other infrastructure for integrity after intense burns.

3) Grazing should be deferred for thirty to ninety (30-90) days after a burn during the growing season. This will help ensure that new growth is able to reestablish.

Integrated Pest Management and Pharmaceuticals (IPM)

General IPM Practices

1) Store pesticides in a roofed structure with a lockable door, at least one hundred (100) feet from surface waters.

2) When practical, construct a permanent mix/load facility with an impermeable surface, and locate it away from wells and/or surface waters. Where permanent facilities are not practical, use portable mix/load stations. When field mixing is necessary, loading activities should be conducted at random locations in the field with the aid of nurse tanks, if applicable. Use a check valve or air gap separation to prevent backflow into the tank when filling a sprayer.

3) Practice IPM and use all pesticides in accordance with the label. When applying a pesticide close to a stream, canal, pond or other sensitive waterbody, choose a pesticide with an active ingredient that has a lower toxicity to aquatic organisms.

https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2011/590.125 https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2011/590.125

4) Rinse, recycle, or dispose of empty pesticide containers following federal, state, and/or local regulations.

Pharmaceutical Use and Disposal

1) Use FDA-approved products and only mix enough product to administer to affected cattle, which will result in little to no waste product.

2) Follow label and dosing instructions to ensure that the proper dose is administered.

3) Dispose of spent needles and unused pharmaceutical products in a responsible manner. Contact a veterinarian to obtain a puncture proof container that is labeled

"Biohazard". Dispose of spent needles in accordance with Environmental Protection

Agency (EPA) guidelines and follow local solid waste regulations.

Exotic/Invasive Vegetation

Exotic/Invasive Vegetation Control

1) Mowing pasture to a uniform height helps to control weeds and other undesirable plants and promotes the uniform regrowth of forage for the next grazing cycle.

Leaving a stubble height of approximately five (5) inches encourages healthy forage growth.

2) Any vegetation documented in the Florida Invasive Species Council (FISC)will be addressed using methods described by IFAS in Weed Management in Pastures and

Rangeland—2025 or most recent version. In addition, any species that ELAMP staff deems to be a detriment to Florida’s native habitat shall be addressed in a similar manner.

3) Dogfennel shall be controlled as documented in Dogfennel (Eupatorium capillifolium):

Biology and Control, or most recently published IFAS document.

4) Where feasible, mechanical removal shall be preferred over pesticide utilization.

Hay Operation

Guidelines

1) If permitted by ELAMP, IFAS guidelines shall be followed relative to annual soil testing for proper pH and related nutrients to allow for continuous productivity and longevity of the fields. Additionally, the guidelines as specified in Hay Production in Florida, or most recently published document, shall be followed.

https://www.floridainvasives.org/plant-list/ http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/wg006 http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/wg006 http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ag233 http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ag233 http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/AA/AA25100.pdf

2) Harvest hay in a manner that allows wildlife to flush and escape.