MARCH 2000 VOL. 1, NO. 3
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March 2000 Vol. 1, No. 3
DELAWARE NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT NOTES
"Nutrient Management Plans"
WHAT IS A NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT PLAN?
· A Nutrient Management Plan (NMP) is a strategy to manage the amount, placement, timing, and application of nutrients and will be required by anyone who manages more than 10 acres of land on which nutrients are applied or operates an animal operation in excess of eight animal units.
· Nutrient management requires planning and recognizes that every farm has its own set of circumstances that affect efficiency of nutrient use.
· A NMP is tailored to the farming operation and the needs of the person implementing the plan.
WHAT ARE THE GOALS OF A NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT PLAN?
· The overall goal of nutrient management legislation in Delaware is to maintain the profitability of agriculture and other land-related industries while protecting and improving the quality of Delaware's ground and surface water.
· These goals are accomplished by increasing the efficient use of nutrients by balancing nutrient inputs (i.e., fertilizer, manure, etc.) with the growth requirements of crops, lawns, and nursery products.
· Efficient use of nutrients means selecting the appropriate rate of each nutrient and applying each in a uniform, timely manner.
· A nutrient management plan is a tool for calculating nutrient needs, keeping accurate records, and maximizing the efficiency of nutrient use.
HOW CAN I GET A NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR MY OPERATION?
· The Delaware Nutrient Management Act states that nutrient management planners will be provided free of charge through the Conservation Districts. Those wishing to hire private nutrient consultants will be reimbursed at a rate determined by the Nutrient Management Commission. This rate is subject to annual appropriations by the Delaware legislature. Early participation is strongly encouraged. Mandatory nutrient planning will begin in 2003, and all required plans must be completed by 2007.
WHAT ARE THE REQUIRED ELEMENTS OF A DELAWARE NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT PLAN?
THE FOLLOWING IS AN EXAMPLE FOR FIELD CROP:
· General Information
o Contact information for the operator
_ Farm ID number
o Contact information for the plan writer
_ Delaware nutrient management certification number
_ Date plan was prepared
o Geographic location of the farming operation
_ Watershed code
o Total acres represented by the plan
o Total number of animal units and type of animals
o List of major conservation practices
· Field maps or aerial photos that include:
o Tract # and/or individual field ID numbers
o Individual field boundaries
o Copy of soil survey map showing all soil types on each field
o Location of all surface waters on farm (e.g., streams, ponds)
o Irrigation systems
· Determination of crop nutrient requirements:
o Determine realistic yield goal (usually the average yield for the best 4 of the last 7 years)
_ Without yield records, use soil productivity classes
o Soil testing results (for example, P, K, lime, etc.)
o PSNT results for all fields of corn with organic additions of nutrient
o Crop rotation plan
· Determination of efficient nutrient application rates and methods:
o Determine nitrogen rate based on expected yield goal
o Application of phosphorus to high phosphorus soils cannot exceed a three-year crop removal rate
o Manure analyses results
o Estimate residual N from manures, fertilizers, or legume crops from previous years
o Nitrogen content of irrigation waters
o Nutrient source selected and dates of application
o Adjust for factors that affect crop nutrient requirements or nutrient availability (e.g., soil temperature and moisture, unusual rainfall events, droughts, etc.)
· Record keeping requirements:
o Soil test results and recommended nutrient application rates
o Quantities, analyses, and sources of nutrients applied
o Dates and methods of nutrient applications
o Crops planted, yields, and crop residues removed
o Tons and type of manure exported from farm
o Certification statement, signed by the operator, to document the intention of Nutrient Management and/or Animal Waste Management Plan Implementation
Nutrient management plans, animal waste management plans, and records of implementation "..shall not be considered as public records under the Freedom of Information Act and shall not be disclosed for reasons other than compilation." These records, however, shall be available for inspection by the Delaware Department of Agriculture and the Delaware Nutrient Management Commission.
Cooperative Extension Education in Agriculture and Home Economics, University of Delaware, Delaware State University and the United States Department of Agriculture cooperating. John C. Nye, Dean and Director. Distributed in furtherance of Acts of Congress of May 8 and June 30, 1914. It is the policy of the Delaware Cooperative Extension System that no person shall be subjected to discrimination on the grounds of race, color, sex, disability, age or national origin.
