Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans in Minnesota

Comprehensive Nutrient Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans in MinnesotaManagement Plans in Minnesota

State OverviewState Overview

• Agriculture in Minnesota• “Diverse”

• Dairy, Beef, Swine, Poultry

• “Regionalized”• Pockets of the same

type of livestock production

• Livestock are concentrated in the southern half of the state

State OverviewState Overview

• Northern Minnesota• Lowest Animal Numbers• Smaller Beef and Dairy Farms

• Northeast• Lakes and Woodlands

• Grazing

• Northwest• Small Grains

• Sugar Beets

State OverviewState Overview

• South central and Southwestern– Swine production areas

• Minnesota ranks #3 – Flatter, tile drained fields– Corn & Soybeans

State OverviewState Overview• Central & Southeastern– Dairy, Beef and Alfalfa Production

Areas– Minnesota ranks

• #6 in milk cows• #12 in all cattle and calves

– Majority of our assistance• Feedlot fixes• CNMPs

– Ground and surface waters in both of these area are highly vulnerable to contamination

State OverviewState Overview

• Southeast Minnesota– Karst Features

• Shallow Bedrock• Sinkholes• Springs

– Trout Streams– Drains to Mississippi River

State OverviewState Overview

• Central Minnesota– Coarse textured soils– Irrigation– Lakes– Mississippi River– Specialty Crops

State OverviewState Overview

• Central Minnesota• Also the major poultry

production area• Minnesota Ranks

• #1 – Turkeys• #11 – All Chickens

• Work very little with poultry operations• Don’t need storage• Much of the manure is

sold and applied commercially

CNMPs in MinnesotaCNMPs in Minnesota

• Majority are developed by NRCS staff– Overall CNMP coordination and development– Manure and wastewater handling and storage site

assessments– Land treatment evaluations– Feed management (fact sheets and self assessments)– Other utilization options• Exceptions: Exceptions: • Recordkeeping (producers responsibility)Recordkeeping (producers responsibility)– Nutrient management plansNutrient management plans• Majority are developed by TSPsMajority are developed by TSPs• Some by Soil and Water Conservation District employeesSome by Soil and Water Conservation District employees

CNMP Facility AssessmentsCNMP Facility Assessments

CNMP Facility AssessmentsCNMP Facility AssessmentsBasic Information GatheredBasic Information Gathered

Basic Information Gathered• Sketch of existing lots and

structures• Manure handling needs• Animal housing and

management• Present and planned

number and type of animals

• Minimum storage period required

CNMP Facility AssessmentsCNMP Facility AssessmentsItems AddressedItems Addressed

Surface Water Pollution Potential• Feedlot runoff• Milk parlor wash water discharge• Silage leachate

CNMP Facility AssessmentsCNMP Facility AssessmentsItems AddressedItems Addressed

Ground Water Pollution Potential

• Presence of sinkholes• Water well location

and construction• Leaking storage

ponds or tanks• Contaminated runoff

CNMP Facility AssessmentsCNMP Facility AssessmentsItems AddressedItems Addressed

Mortality Management• Rendering• Burial• Composting• Incineration• Drag into woods?• Bury in water table of

gravel pit?

CNMP Facility AssessmentsCNMP Facility AssessmentsItems AddressedItems Addressed

Storage Facilities• Current and needed

storage volume capacity

• Design and construction of existing structures

• Visible signs of problems or contamination

CNMP Facility AssessmentsCNMP Facility AssessmentsItems AddressedItems Addressed

Odors• Complaints from

neighbors• Proximity to neighbors

or cities

Safety Issues• Unfenced storage• Entry points to

confined spaces

CNMP Facility AssessmentsCNMP Facility AssessmentsItems AddressedItems Addressed

Emergency Response Plan• Spills• Safety Issues

O&M Plan

CNMP Tools in MinnesotaCNMP Tools in Minnesota

• Minnesota NRCS Webpage– Links to all of the necessary tools to develop a nutrient

management plan and a CNMP– Extremely helpful when working with TSPs and Producers– Everything in one place– Latest forms and guidance

CNMP Tools in MinnesotaCNMP Tools in Minnesota• CNMP Template

– Word document• Fill in the blank and pull downs

CNMP TemplateCNMP Template• Provides a standardized format

– 7 pages plus appendices• includes cover page, table of contents, and signature

page

CNMP TemplateCNMP Template

• Appendices serve as a checklist for remaining info

CNMP Tools in MinnesotaCNMP Tools in Minnesota

Nutrient Management Planner for Minnesota computer softwareNutrient Management Planner for Minnesota computer software• Developed jointly by UMES and NRCSDeveloped jointly by UMES and NRCS

Nutrient Management Planner for Nutrient Management Planner for MinnesotaMinnesota

• Used by TSPs and producers• Setup to walk the planner through the nutrient

management plan development process• Evaluate acres available and needed for manure

application• Inventory and evaluate current practices• Conduct environmental assessments

Nutrient Management Planner for Nutrient Management Planner for MinnesotaMinnesota

• Also develops annual plans

• Prioritize manure application sites• Select nutrient sources, rate, timing, placement• Tracks applied manure volumes

Nutrient Management Planner for Nutrient Management Planner for MinnesotaMinnesota

• Includes a CNMP Development Tool• Step by Step Planning

Guide• Includes links to all

documentation necessary for all components of the CNMP

Nutrient Management Planner for Nutrient Management Planner for MinnesotaMinnesota

• Software has either: • forms completed by the

software • Phosphorus loss assessment

• blank forms for other items not covered in the software • Manure and Wastewater

Facility Assessment

• Plus various related fact sheets• Feed management

CNMP Tools in MinnesotaCNMP Tools in Minnesota• Developed an ArcMap layer of Sensitive Features Developed an ArcMap layer of Sensitive Features

for Nutrient Management Planning for Nutrient Management Planning

CNMP Tools in MinnesotaCNMP Tools in Minnesota

• Surface waters and setbacks• Sinkholes• Sensitive soil features

– Coarse textured– Frequently flooded– High water table– Ponding– Shallow depth to bedrock– Steep slopes

• DWSMA, WHPA

NRCS EQIP FundingNRCS EQIP Funding

• Fiscal Year 2010– Nutrient Management (3 years of payment)

– CNMPs (102)• Facility Assessments

– Completed by a TSP– With MinnFarm (pollution delivery assessment tool) $1856– Without MinnFarm $1350– Livestock Producer EQA (Mn Milk Producers) $633

Plans Without Manure $5.54 / yr

Plans With Manure $8.54 / yr