This BMP provides acceptable procedures for disposal of cull potatoes by spreading them in fields when temperatures will be low enough to freeze the potatoes and effectively kill pathogens. In addition, frozen potatoes should desiccate so that nutrient-laden runoff from fields where cull potatoes are spread is minimized.
Cold Weather Temporary Cull Potato Storage Criteria (prior to being spread)Any temporary storage of cull potatoes between the dates of October 1 and the following March 1, must be in accordance with the Cold Weather Temporary Cull Potato Storage BMP.
Warm Weather Temporary Cull Potato Storage Criteria (prior to being spread): Any temporary storage of cull potatoes, between the dates of March 1 and October 1 of the same year, must be in accordance with the Warm Weather Temporary Cull Potato Storage BMP.
Field Spreading Rate For Cull Potatoes:
Soil Criteria | Spreading Rate |
Well drained and deep to bedrock (> 40" to seasonal high water table and bedrock) | Up to 400 Barrels/ Acre |
Moderately well drained (16" to 40" to Seasonal high Water Table) and moderately deep (20 to 40" to bedrock) or somewhat excessively drained | Up to 300 Barrels/ Acre |
Very poorly drained, poorly drained, somewhat poorly drained, excessively drained or very shallow to bedrock. | Not allowed. |
Appropriate Dates for Field Spreading Cull Potatoes:
South of the Southerly Boundary of the Southern Aroostook SWCD | North of the Southerly Boundary of the Southern Aroostook SWCD |
October 1 to March 15 | October 1 to March 30 |
Setbacks for Field Spreading of Cull Potatoes: Field spread cull potatoes shall be set back a minimum of 100 feet from wells, springs, ponds, streams, and lakes. No spreading shall occur in depressions and swales.
Slopes for Field Spreading Cull Potatoes: Cull potatoes shall not be field spread on sustained slopes of greater than 15 percent.
01-001 C.M.R. ch. 600, § 1