Nutrient Management

Managing nutrient applications to maximize profitability and minimize water degradation is a smart move and a nutrient management plan is a great way to do it. A nutrient management plan is an annual plan updated to follow USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service’s 590 Nutrient Management Standard, (2005). A plan accounts for all nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (N-P-K) nutrients applied to each field and is the for each field. Soils need to be tested by a DATCP certified laboratory every 4 years, with each field sampled approximately every 5 acres.

NRCS 590 Nutrient Management Standard

Changes to Wisconsin Administrative Code, ATCP 50, went into effect June 1, 2007 to implement the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service’s phosphorus based 590 Nutrient Management Standard, (2005). As of January 1, 2008 law states that all farms applying nutrient need to implement a qualified nutrient management plan. In addition, a nutrient management plan can be required when producers:

1. Are offered or accept cost-share dollars for nutrient management;
2. Accept cost-share for installing manure storage;
3. Participate in the farmland preservation program;
4. Are regulated under a DNR WPDES permit, mostly farms over 1,000 animal units;
5. Are regulated under a county manure storage or livestock siting ordinance.

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection’s website provides the complete 590 Nutrient Management standard, technical notes, summaries, and related information.

Nutrient Management Education

Starting in January, Northcentral Technical College offers the Nutrient Management Planning course, designed to help students develop a nutrient-management plan that will meet the NRC requirements. Students will enter soil test information into software program, SNAP, and will develop a plan using the data. Subjects include conservation plans, field mapping, soil test analysis, and crop selection and requirements.

For more information on the program, contact Katie Mihlbauer at 715-803-1871, or Kirk Langfoss, Marathon County Conservation, Planning, and Zoning Department at 715-261-6008.

This program is provided by the County Conservation Departments, UW-Extension, and Northcentral Technical College offices in Marathon, Clark, Lincoln, Taylor, and Price Counties.

Additional Resources

• SNAP-Plus Nutrient Management Software
• Nutrient & Manure Application & Restriction Maps – new maps are being developed across the state

Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade & Consumer Protection

• Wisconsin DATCP Nutrient Management Planning
• Wisconsin Certified Soil & Manure Testing Laboratories (.pdf)
  
• Nutrient Management Plan Checklist (.doc)
  
• Available Manure Nutrients Worksheet (.xls)
• Wisconsin Manure Information Worksheet (.xls)
  

Wisconsin DNR

• Wisconsin DNR: Agricultural Performance Standards and Prohibitions
• Wisconsin DNR’s Runoff Management Website
• Wisconsin’s Runoff Rules: What Farmers Need to Know (.pdf)

UW-Extension

• Wisconsin Runoff Info – UW-Extension
• Nutrient Application Guidelines for Field, Vegetable & Fruit Crops in Wisconsin – A2809 (.pdf)
• Sampling Soils for Testing – A2100 (.pdf)

UW-Integrated Pest & Crop Management

• Credit Legume Nitrogen & Read the Profits – A3591 (.pdf)
• Credit What You Spread & Read the Profits – A3580 (.pdf)
• Know How Much You Haul (.pdf)
• Nutrient Management Fast Facts (.pdf)

UW-Department of Soil Science

• Soil Submission Sheet for Field, Vegetable and Fruit Crops (.pdf) , Instructions (.pdf)
• Manure Analysis Submission Form (.pdf), Sampling Instructions (.pdf)