Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans in Minnesota

1. Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans in Minnesota

2. State 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

3. State Overview • Northern Minnesota • Lowest Animal Numbers • Smaller Beef and Dairy Farms • Northeast • Lakes and Woodlands • Grazing • Northwest • Small Grains • Sugar Beets

4. State Overview • South central and Southwestern • Swine production areas • Minnesota ranks #3 • Flatter, tile drained fields • Corn & Soybeans

5. State 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

6. State Overview • Southeast Minnesota • Karst Features • Shallow Bedrock • Sinkholes • Springs • Trout Streams • Drains to Mississippi River

7. State Overview • Central Minnesota • Coarse textured soils • Irrigation • Lakes • Mississippi River • Specialty Crops

8. State 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

9. CNMPs 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: • Recordkeeping (producers responsibility) • Nutrient management plans • Majority are developed by TSPs • Some by Soil and Water Conservation District employees

10. CNMP Facility Assessments

11. CNMP Facility AssessmentsBasic 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

12. Surface Water Pollution Potential Feedlot runoff Milk parlor wash water discharge Silage leachate CNMP Facility AssessmentsItems Addressed

13. CNMP Facility AssessmentsItems Addressed • Ground Water Pollution Potential • Presence of sinkholes • Water well location and construction • Leaking storage ponds or tanks • Contaminated runoff

14. CNMP Facility AssessmentsItems Addressed • Mortality Management • Rendering • Burial • Composting • Incineration • Drag into woods? • Bury in water table of gravel pit?

15. CNMP Facility AssessmentsItems Addressed • Storage Facilities • Current and needed storage volume capacity • Design and construction of existing structures • Visible signs of problems or contamination

16. CNMP Facility AssessmentsItems Addressed • Odors • Complaints from neighbors • Proximity to neighbors or cities • Safety Issues • Unfenced storage • Entry points to confined spaces

17. CNMP Facility AssessmentsItems Addressed • Emergency Response Plan • Spills • Safety Issues • O&M Plan

18. CNMP 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

19. CNMP Tools in Minnesota • CNMP Template • Word document • Fill in the blank and pull downs

20. CNMP Template • Provides a standardized format • 7 pages plus appendices • includes cover page, table of contents, and signature page

21. CNMP Template • Appendices serve as a checklist for remaining info

22. CNMP Tools in Minnesota • Nutrient Management Planner for Minnesota computer software • Developed jointly by UMES and NRCS

23. Nutrient Management Planner for Minnesota • 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

24. Nutrient Management Planner for Minnesota • Also develops annual plans • Prioritize manure application sites • Select nutrient sources, rate, timing, placement • Tracks applied manure volumes

25. Nutrient Management Planner for Minnesota • Includes a CNMP Development Tool • Step by Step Planning Guide • Includes links to all documentation necessary for all components of the CNMP

26. Nutrient Management Planner for Minnesota • 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

27. CNMP Tools in Minnesota • Developed an ArcMap layer of Sensitive Features for Nutrient Management Planning

28. CNMP 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

29. NRCS 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