Nutrient Management Plans as Tools to Achieve Sustainable Animal Waste Utilization

Nutrient Management Plans as Tools to Achieve Sustainable Animal Waste Utilization

Summary

EPA CAFO rules, NRCS nutrient management standards, and increasing public concerns 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 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.

Objectives/Performance Targets

Organize an interagency Nutrient Management Focus group of twelve representatives to plan, prepare and present the training.

Provided 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.

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 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.

Accomplishments/Milestones

A 12-member, interagency Nutrient Management Focus group was organized and prepared and presented the training. This focus group was primarily instrumental in planning, organizing, and implementing the project training initiatives. Additional information about the Kentucky Nutrient Management Focus Group can be found at http://www.ca.uky.edu/enri/focsgrps/nmfg.htm. Individuals from numerous agriculture related organizations were identified by this Focus Group and invited to participate in the training. The target audiences were farmers, NRCS District Conservationists, and local conservation district employees who are confronted regularly with water quality, nutrient management and related environmental issues. In addition, NGOs, County Extension Agents, Small Farm Assistants, and certified crop advisors were trained as educators and technical consultants to assist farmers with their nutrient management planning.

Training materials developed include a 13-minute videotape entitled Nutrient Management for Farms in Kentucky, and an 11-page publication with color photos of BMPs and nutrient management guidelines. An additional US/EPA Section 319 nonpoint source grant provided for sufficient copies for every CAFO and AFO farmer and the agency advisors in the state. A nutrient management guideline booklet was also published for the smaller farmer’s reference. Spreadsheets were developed for streamlined nutrient management planning.

Three, two-day workshop sessions were held at five different geographic locations throughout Kentucky. Hands-on farm site visits were included during each training session.

A scientific research basic training curriculum was presented during the classroom session and practical exercises were conducted on working family farms and/or at University research farms. Poultry, dairy, and beef farming operations and their manure management techniques were studied.

Interactive seminars imparted theoretical and practical principles using computer spreadsheets and other interactive software to assess nutrient management needs. Databases and interpretive software relative to topographic locations, thematic map of points of interest (POI), soil types, slopes, proximity to streams, sinkholes and other limiting factors allowed for accurate acceptable application rates and protocols for development of the comprehensive nutrient management plans (CNMP). Geographic information system (GIS) technology was utilized as much as possible. Researchers, educators and agriculture advisors worked within an interagency collaborative setting to present the science and training techniques for developing nutrient management plans.

On-site farm visits were planned to observe best management practices and successful nutrient management plans being practiced on various livestock operations. Training also included elements of stream and watershed monitoring assessment using the Kentucky Agriculture Watershed Awareness Program.

This project built upon the knowledge gained from the previously funded Kentucky SARE project #A597-26 which provided grass root level farm leaders with sustainable agriculture water quality leadership training. This project advances to an interagency environment that addresses the scientific nutrient management and related education and recommendation opportunities.

Initially, training was planned for three, two-day training sessions. Subsequent changes relating to nutrient management requirements in the Kentucky Agriculture Water Quality Plan and emerging, nation-wide emphasis on the NRCS nutrient management standard (Code 590) greatly affected animal waste utilization and nutrient management planning for producers in Kentucky. Due to these changes, an increased number of program participants and additional training requirements were evident. The nutrient management-training program was greatly expanded.

The core of the nutrient management-training curriculum advanced to consist of the following three parts:

Part I – The Science of Nutrient Management
Part II – Policies and Regulations related to Nutrient Management in Kentucky
Part III – Field Practicum and Planning Exercise

The initial Part I (science) training session was conducted at the University of Kentucky Research and Education Center in Princeton, Kentucky. Training topics included a thorough discussion of phosphorus sources and soil reaction, soil test phosphorus, and phosphorus and water quality. In addition, the training provided an overview of the draft Kentucky NRCS Nutrient Management Technical Standard 590. A demonstration of software was presented to help agricultural professionals and advisors assist Kentucky producers meet the nutrient management planning requirements of the Kentucky Agriculture Water Quality Act. Part I (science) training was repeated at three strategic geographic locations across Kentucky.

A Nutrient Management Planning Handbook was developed and distributed to workshop participants as a training tool and reference guide. This comprehensive, three-ring binder can continually be updated to incorporate new information and training materials. The goal is to have this reference material available in Kentucky’s 120 county extension offices, the 121 conservation district offices, and on the counters in farm supply stores.

The Part II training sessions address nutrient management policies and planning guidelines. These sessions also reference the revised NRCS Nutrient Management Technical Standard 590. Technical Standard 590 serves as the standard for nutrient management planning for farmers in Kentucky. Part II also incorporates training related to use of nutrient management planning software developed by agronomy specialists from the University of Kentucky. Eight training sessions have been conducted for Part II throughout Kentucky. Three hundred and fifty participants have completed Part II training to date. This training also included introduction to nutrient management planning exercises.

The Part III training sessions were primarily field exercises that focused on hands-on learning and applying the Kentucky Phosphorus Index to assess phosphorus environmental risk. Comprehensive nutrient management planning information from a typical poultry farm was also included. The Part III training exercises were conducted at the University of Kentucky research farms at Lexington and Princeton, Kentucky. The total number of individuals who have participated in the training sessions exceeds 400. This includes participants from the following agencies and organizations:

Natural Resource Conservation Service (178)
Cooperative Extension Service (99)
Kentucky Certified Crop Advisors (64)
Kentucky Division of Conservation and Conservation Districts (33)
Kentucky Division of Water (3)
Kentucky State University (3)
Environmental Industry Representatives (3)
Kentucky Department of Agriculture (1)
Northern Kentucky University (1)
Crop Service and Technical Service Providers (25)

These professionals represent a large part of Kentucky’s technical support base for producers.

Representatives of the Nutrient Management Focus group hosted a one-day nutrient management farm tour during the summer. 250 farmers and agency representatives participated. A nutrient management update session was held in December 2003 where 40 participants received the latest information and developments.

Additional agribusiness representatives are now being trained by this Focus Group. In February 2004, 45 Southern States Cooperative Store Managers and sales personnel were trained in Lexington, KY. The on-farm exercise was conducted at the University of Kentucky’s Main Chance Research farm. Certified Crop Advisor Continuing Educational Units were awarded to these participants. The participants who completed their nutrient management planning homework will also be awarded a Certified Nutrient Manager Certificate.

Follow-up efforts are underway to place the entire course on line to accommodate those unable to receive the initial training and to provide for the opportunity to continue to easily update the training requirements. Plans are to have this on-line program applicable to Kentucky Agriculture and as a reference to agriculture throughout the southern states.

Participants completed an evaluation assessment following each session to determine the level of knowledge, skills, and attitudes about animal waste utilization and nutrient management planning. Later program agendas have been adjusted to accommodate the identified future needs of the participants.

A follow-up survey of participants was conducted to determine the effectiveness of project manuals and videotapes used as educational materials.

The percentage and number of participants from different organizations that completed training was also be used as an indicator of success.

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

The revision to the Kentucky Agriculture Water Quality Plan, the EPA Confined Animal Feeding Operation regulations and the USDA NRCS Nutrient Management Standard 590 all requires certain agriculture producers to implement a nutrient management plan. This SARE PDP program has provided timely support and assistance to address challenging nutrient management and animal waste issues in Kentucky.

The Agriculture Water Quality Act applies to all farms with 10 acres of agriculture production land or more. CAFO requirements are for Comprehensive Nutrient Management plans and the NRCS 590 standard relates to farms participating in cost share and assistance programs. Since these guidelines can become complex, this training and resulting guidelines have been invaluable for Kentucky’s producers in meeting these requirements.

Due to this SARE grant, nutrient management training materials have been developed and farm advisors are being trained in nutrient management techniques. As a result, hundreds of landowners were contacted and benefited through on-farm field days and educational events at statewide commodity meetings.

Farmers in Kentucky have embraced this concept of managing animal waste with unparalleled enthusiasm. In addition, Kentucky farmers are a national success story with over $11 million dollars designated through the State Cost Share Program to help farmers construct best management practices (BMPs) for conservation purposes. Farmers throughout the Southern Region and the entire country are facing nutrient management challenges. This project combines educational demonstrations and practical exercises into a successful program.

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