TY - JOUR T1 - Characterizing the use of environmentally friendly pasture management practices by horse farm operators in Maryland JF - Journal of Soil and Water Conservation SP - 34 LP - 40 DO - 10.2489/jswc.68.1.34 VL - 68 IS - 1 AU - N.M. Fiorellino AU - K.M. Wilson AU - A.O. Burk Y1 - 2013/01/01 UR - http://www.jswconline.org/content/68/1/34.abstract N2 - Despite government regulations that require some horse farms to implement nutrient management plans and encourage them to adopt best management practices (BMPs), the current use of BMPs by farm operators on Maryland horse farms is not yet known. A mailed survey was designed to assess use and knowledge of BMPs by Maryland horse farm operators as well as to develop a model to predict the occurrence of soil erosion on those farms. One thousand surveys were mailed to horse farm operators throughout the state in January of 2009, with 382 completed surveys returned (43.5% response rate). Respondents reported having the highest knowledge of appropriate stocking density, use of rotational grazing, and correct manure management. The majority of farm operators reported using most recommended BMPs correctly on their farms. Best management practices with the lowest implementation rates were use of herbicide for weed control, storage of manure on an impervious surface, use of a sacrifice lot within a pasture, rotational grazing, managing roof runoff, and lime application. Farm operators that reported using a lower stocking density (greater pasture area per horse) were more likely to be using some BMPs correctly compared to farm operators who reported using higher stocking densities (p < 0.0001). Respondents reported high knowledge of some BMPs but then reported low use of those same BMPs. Using logistic regression, variables that predicted the occurrence of soil erosion included vegetative cover, use of compacted materials in heavy-use areas, and topography of pastures. This model may be used to determine a farm's potential to negatively impact the environment by evaluating the use of these BMPs. In conclusion, horse farm operators were using many BMPs on their farms, but some chose not to use BMPs despite a high knowledge of the BMP. Further research is necessary in order to understand why some BMPs have low implementation rates and what can be done to increase those implementation rates. ER -