Cost-share program to remove old poultry houses
There are state funds available to tear down and remove abandoned poultry houses.
The Delaware Department of Agriculture is accepting applications through Monday, May 1, for a new poultry house demolition assistance program. The program provides cost-share assistance to remove old poultry houses past their useful life.
The department will reimburse a poultry house owner 50% of the actual costs for remediation, up to a maximum of $10,000 per house. Prior to approval, department nutrient management staff will perform a site visit to verify houses to be removed and discuss the need to manage residual litter or nutrients. Funding will be reserved for approved applications to give applicants time to complete the removals, said Stacey Hofmann, chief of community relations.
“Many poultry houses across Delaware have reached the end of their productive lifespan and have been abandoned as producers have upgraded to more environmentally friendly poultry houses,” said Secretary of Agriculture Michael Scuse. “Our goal by offsetting the costs to remove these houses is to assist producers in lessening their environmental impact and enhance our rural landscape.”
According to research by the University of Delaware’s Cooperative Extension, the soil under a poultry house can accumulate mineral nutrients through the diffusion of the ammonia component of manure over 30 to 50 years. Once the roof deteriorates, rainwater can enter the house, which can cause the excess nutrients to leach into the groundwater.
Poultry house remediation cost share is also available through other programs. Cost share through the DDA program may be combined with other programs to help the landowner to reduce costs further, but DDA will not reimburse expenses that have or will be covered by another source, Hofmann said.
Landowners who wish to apply for the program can download an application at agriculture.delaware.gov/grants-loans. Applications can be emailed to nutrient.management@delaware.gov or faxed to 302-697-6287.
