Project Overview
Annual Reports
Information Products
Commodities
- Animals: bovine, poultry, swine, sheep
- Animal Products: dairy
Practices
- Animal Production: manure management
- Crop Production: nutrient cycling, organic fertilizers
- Education and Training: demonstration, extension, focus group
- Farm Business Management: whole farm planning, budgets/cost and returns
- Soil Management: soil analysis, soil quality/health
- Sustainable Communities: sustainability measures
Abstract:
EPA CAFO rules, NRCS nutrient management standards, nutrient management requirements in Kentucky’s Agriculture Water Quality Plan, along with increasing public concerns all point to the need for trained educators and technical advisors who can educate producers about correct nutrient management and animal waste utilization. Farmers are being challenged to use new technologies to design and implement effective nutrient management plans. In Kentucky, new management tools, practices, and corrective measures relating to managing animal waste are evolving at a record pace. This project provides for classroom training and practical field exercises for agriculture professionals and advisors throughout Kentucky who guide farmers in developing nutrient management plans. Nutrient management training materials provide tools for preparing nutrient management plans that provide for effective and economic animal waste handling and utilization systems.
Project objectives:
To organize a Nutrient Management Focus group made up of twelve representatives from government agencies and commodity groups to plan, prepare and present nutrient management training statewide.
To provide a forum for interaction among agriculture trainers, advisors, and leaders to study and discuss issues relating to nutrient management and its relationship to the environment and to sustainable agriculture.
To provide training and present developments in new technology for Technical Service Providers, Cooperative Extension Service (CES) County Agents and Specialists, Kentucky State University (KSU) Small Farm Assistants, Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) District Conservationists, other private consultants and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in nutrient management planning and animal waste management.
Farmers will be provided with current technical and integrative informational tools which will assist them in developing nutrient management plans that meet the requirements of the Unified National Strategy for Animal Feeding Operations regarding the Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan (CNMP) the Kentucky Agriculture Water Quality Plan and the USDA/NRCS 590 Nutrient Management Standards.