Nutrient Management Planning
Nutrient Management Planning
A Nutrient Management Plan (NMP) is a budget of nutrients on your farm that is required for all farms that are CSFO or larger in Vermont.
Definitions (VT Agency of Agriculture Food and Markets)
Small Farm Operation: Operate 4 or more acres for farming, or earn an annual gross income of more than $2,000 from the sale of agricultural products, or have filed a 1040(F) Tax Form once in the last 2 years.
- While Small Farm Operations are not required to maintain a Nutrient Management Plan to the USDA NRCS 590 Standard, they are still required to adequately care for and track nutrients on the operation.
Certified Small Farm Operation: Have at least the following animal numbers: 50 mature dairy cows, 75 young stock or heifers, 75 cattle or cow/calf pairs, 40 equines, 750 sheep or goats, or a combination of animals with total live weight exceeding 90,000 pounds (see RAPs for complete animal threshold numbers); or operate more than 50 acres of annual cropland (corn, sweet corn, soybean, pumpkin, or vegetables/fruit).
Medium Farm Operation: Operates a farm within the thresholds for a Permitted Medium Farm Operation (MFO) (200-699 dairy cows, 300-999 youngstock or heifers, etc.)
Large Farm Operation: Operates a farm within the thresholds for a Permitted Large Farm Operation (LFO) (700+ dairy cows, 1,000+ youngstock or heifers, etc.)
Nutrient Management Planning helps you:
- Plan manure and other nutrient applications to meet your yield goals
- Save money on unneeded fertilizers
- Maintain or improve soil health
- Protect water and air quality
Contact us at RNRCD for more information or help getting started on your NMP.
Record keeping for NMP
NutrientRecordKeepingUpdated2023.pdfRecords of manure or other agricultural waste application should contain:
- date of application,
- field location,
- application rate,
- source of nutrients applied, and
- weather and field conditions at the time of application.
Writing and Funding your Nutrient Management Plan (NMP)
Using the updated goCrop