Whole Farm Nutrient Planning

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Whole Farm Nutrient Planning
By Rick Koelsch, University of Nebraska
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Why the Focus on Nutrients?
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Water Quality Contaminantsin Manure
Possible Environmental Pollutants Risk

• 1) Nitrate-N Health
• 2) Ammonia-N Fish Kills
• 3) Phosphorus Eutrophication
• 4) Pathogens Health
• 5) Organic Matter Oxygen Depletion

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Fundamental nutrient question
Is My Livestock or Poultry Operation
Concentrating Nutrients?
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Nutrient Concentration

• Regional nutrient concentration issues

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Manure P vs. Crop Land P Use
lt 25 25 - 50 50 - 100 gt100
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Manure P vs. Crop Land P Use
lt 25 25 - 50 50 - 100 gt100
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Nutrient Concentration

• Regional nutrient concentration issues
• Individual farm nutrient concentration issues

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Nutrient concentration is common for many
individual livestock operations.
Often caused by separation of ownership or
distance between crop and livestock production.
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Nutrient Concentration

• Regional nutrient concentration issues
• Individual farm nutrient concentration issues.
• Single field nutrient concentration issues.

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What is Whole Farm Nutrient Balance
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Nutrient Inputs
Inputs Feed Animals Irrigation Water
Fertilizer Legume N
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Managed Nutrient Outputs
Inputs
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Losses Soil Storage
Inputs
Losses or Soil
Storage
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Recycling of Nutrients
Inputs
Feed Manure
Losses or Soil
Storage
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Typical Nutrient Balance on Animal Feeding
Operations (AFOs)
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Are Inputs Outputs In Balance? (11,000-Head
Feedlot)
Managed Outputs
Inputs
1,080 ton N/yr. 240 ton P/yr.
430 ton N/yr 120 ton P/yr
Farm boundary
Losses Soil Storage 650 ton N/yr. 120
ton P/yr
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Livestock Capacity vs P Balance
5
4
High Risk
3
Phosphorus Balance (Ratio of In/Out)
2
1
Low Risk
0
10
100
1,000
10,000
100,000
Livestock Capacity (Animal Units)
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Phosphorus Inputs to Livestock Systems
Fertilizer
1
33
35
74
Feeds
Phosphorus Inputs ( of Total)
47
62
Animals
25
20
3
gt2500
250-2500
lt250
One Time Animal Capacity (animal units)
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Nitrogen Inputs to Livestock Systems

2
3
10
Legumes
15
50
Fertilizer
50
75
Nitrogen Inputs ( of Total)
30
Feeds
32
20
Animals
3
10
gt2500
250-2500
lt250
One Time Animal Capacity (animal units)
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Indicators of Nutrient Imbalance
Yes No Indicator

• ___ ___ Soil P increasing with time?
• ___ ___ High soil P levels?
• ___ ___ Majority of feed protein and P comes
  from off-farm sources?
• ___ ___ Feed rations exceed NRC or university
  recommendations
• ___ ___ No nutrient plan for manure?
• ___ ___ lt 1acre per animal unit

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What are Appropriate Strategies for Managing
Nutrient Imbalances?
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Sustainable Strategy No.1Credit Manure
Nutrients in Crops
Fertilizer Legumes
Crops Manure
Losses or Soil
Storage
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Sustainable Strategy No. 2Reducing Feed Inputs
Feed Forages
Recycling
Losses or Soil
Storage
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Sustainable Strategy No. 3Move Manure Nutrients
Off Farm
Recycling
Losses or Soil
Storage
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Sustainable Strategy No. 4Manure Treatment
Recycling
Losses or Soil
Storage
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Nutrient Balance
Inputs Feed Animals Irrigation Water
Fertilizer Legume N
Losses or Soil
Storage
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Are Inputs Outputs Out of Balance? (120 cow
dairy)
Inputs 29.2 ton N/yr. 2.6 ton
P/yr.
Losses or Soil Storage 22.3 ton N/yr
1.8 ton P/yr
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ARE INPUTS OUTPUTS IN BALANCE? (190 Sow Farrow
to Finish)
Inputs 58 ton N/yr. 7 ton P/yr.
Losses or Soil Storage 43 ton N/yr.
4.4 ton P/yr
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Importance of CNMPs

• EPA, working jointly with USDA NRCS, has
  determined that the most effective way for all
  AFOs to minimize water quality and public health
  risks is to develop and implement ...
  Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans.
• US EPA Guidance Manual for NPDES Permit for
• Concentrated Animal Feeding
  Operations

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What Is a CNMP?

• Environmental Operating Plan for AFO
• Nutrient plan for Whole Farm and individual
  component (e.g. crop nutrient plan)
• Integrate nutrient plan with other issues (e.g.
  soil conservation and odor)
• Environmental record keeping system

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What is Included in a CNMP?

• Manure handling and storage plan
• Land application plan
• Site management plan
• Record keeping
• Alternative manure use plan
• Feed management plan

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One State CNMP Approach
Inventory
Review as Necessary
Strategic Plan
Annual Review
Annual Plan
Plan Modification
Documentation Records
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Take Home Message

• Whole Farm nutrient balance defines the
  magnitude of nutrient related risks.
• Many AFOs exhibit nutrient imbalance.
• Nutrient strategies must address nutrient
  imbalance
• A CNMP will be the operating plan for nutrient
  planning.