Nutrient Management

The NRCS has developed the tools below to aid in the development of Nutrient Management Plans (NMP) and Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans (CNMP). These tools are for your use. 

The following files require  Microsoft Excel, Acrobat Reader or Microsoft Word.

USDA-NRCS Conservation Practice Standard 590 - Nutrient Management   (PDF)  December 2008

• The 590 Standard is the guidance document for the creation of a NMP.

IMMAG - Iowa Manure Management Action Group
Manure Management Series Publications

• Iowa Manure Manager Series, Volume 9, Summary of Regulation for Building or Expanding Open Lot and Confined Beef and Dairy Operations with less than 1,000 Animal Units (PDF)
• Iowa Manure Manager Series, Volume 8,  What is Meant by Crop Availability of Manure Nutrients? (PDF)
• Iowa Manure Manager Series Volume 7, Small Livestock Farms (PDF)
• Iowa Manure Manager Series Volume 6, Is Manure the Same as Fertilizer as a Crop Nutrient Resource? (PDF)
• Iowa Manure Manager Series Volume 5, Financial Resources for Livestock Producers (PDF)
• Iowa Manure Manager Series Volume 4, Being a Good Farm Neighbor (PDF)
• Iowa Manure Manager Series Volume 3, Winter Application (PDF)
• Iowa Manure Manager Series Volume 2, Land Application (PDF)
• Iowa Manure Manager Series Volume 1, Introduction (PDF)

Nutrient Management Notes

Late Spring Nitrate Test (5/31/07)   

Do you know what the information we provide is used for? (12/15/06)

Nitrogen - What is the correct rate? (11/21/06)

Phosphorus (10/25/06)

Definitions of the Ethanol Industry - A Nutrient and Livestock Perspective (10/11/06)

Stalk Nitrate Sampling (10/2/06)

Banning Manure Applications to Soybeans (9/29/06)
 

Plan Outline Narratives

There are three narratives below that you can use as an outline for the creation of these plans. These are written to comply with the 590 Standard. There are red letter prompts in each narrative where you can insert individual plan specific information. These narratives can be used as the planning document typically followed by an appendix of the inventories, maps and nutrient budgets.

• CNMP Narrative with Emergency Action Plan (DOC)
• Example Nutrient Management Plan (PDF)
• NMP Narrative – Without Livestock (DOC)
• NMP Narrative – With Livestock (DOC)
• CNMP Narrative (DOC)

USDA Video News Release
October 30, 2006

"USDA Project Protects Water" - Public/Private Partnership Helps Hardin County Farmer, Paul Zoskie, Match Manure to Crops

Iowa Phosphorus Index

Iowa NRCS and Iowa State University has developed an Iowa Phosphorus Index (PI). The Iowa PI is an assessment tool for the purpose of evaluating the potential of off site phosphorus movement. This Iowa PI is to be used when a NMP is being developed based on the 590 Standard and one of the following conditions exist: 1. When manure is applied. 2. Soil loss is above the tolerable level (T). 3. The planning area is within an identified nutrient impaired watershed. 4. The soil test phosphorus levels are above optimum.

• The Iowa Phosphorus Index  – Iowa NRCS Technical Note 25 (PDF)
• The Iowa Phosphorus Index Calculator (XLS, 4.6 MB) (To save this file, right click on the link, save target as..., name and save file where desired, open the file where saved.)
• Phosphorus Index Fact Sheet  (PDF)

Checklists

Iowa NRCS has developed two checklists for your use. These check lists should be used as a final check as to the completeness of the NMP.

• NMP Checklist  (DOC)  3/17/08
• CNMP Checklist   (DOC) 3/17/08
• CNMP Fillable Checklist (DOC)  3/17/08

CNMP Development Tools

• Data Inventory for Planning Livestock Waste Management Systems (PDF)    New!
• Calibrating a Solid Manure Spreader (XLS)
• CNMP Table of Contents  (PDF)
• CNMP Inventory Worksheet  (DOC)

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