Nutrient Management Activities at County Level

Each county AGNR agent is responsible for supervision and approval of nutrient management plans in their county. The following two cases show the diversity and complexities of these county programs.

Chuck Shuster, Montgomery County AGNR agent. As part of Chuck’s extension responsibilities, he supervises one nutrient management advisor. In this capacity he reviews all Nutrient Management Plans that MCE writes for farmer/ producers in Montgomery County. Since 2001 he has reviewed 150 plans that covered 15,700 acres.

In addition to his supervisory capacity, Chuck has provided educational programs for Nutrient Voucher Certification serving 130 individuals over the last five years. He also provides educational programs to the turf industry in the area of fertilizer use and calibration of equipment. Through these programs he has worked with 393 individuals. These individuals when surveyed indicate that they previously did not calibrate the application equipment 75% of the time. Now calibration is becoming a part of the necessary day to day operations to prevent improper application of nutrients. For the greenhouse industry Chuck has taught 5 programs on fertilizer injector calibration to 250 individuals. From post class surveys, 60% did not calibrate prior to the class and 85% indicated they will calibrate injection equipment using techniques taught in the programs.

Impacts from this extension work can be measured by change in use of calibration, decreased use of fertilizer beyond which yield improvement or growth potential would not have improved and realization of importance of pH modification to improve nutrient availability for plant use.

Bryan Butler, Carroll County AGNR agent. Classes have been offered for 10 years with classes offered, voucher trainings, approximately 5 classes per year, and plan writing.

The purpose of this program is to provide information to agricultural producers on the law, how to comply with the law, probable environmental and financial benefits of having and following a nutrient management plan, basics of soil fertility, calibration, nutrient cycling and timing of nutrient applications.

Classes were offered at a variety of times and locations to reach the largest number of producers’ possible classes were taught by the Extension Educator taking the lead role with teaching efforts augmented by nutrient management advisors, and MDA staff.

Classes were at first poorly attended and the audience was very hostile, as we were able to continue providing non bias research based information from a non regulatory perspective the number of attendees and acceptance grew significantly.

Impacts- As a result of the ground work laid over the 10 years 384 individuals have received nutrient management vouchers and the extension office has written nearly 350 plans for over 55% of the nearly 100,000 acres in Carroll County that require nutrient management plans under the 1998 Water Quality Protection Act.

For more information, contact Bryan Butler & Chuck Shuster

Last updated: 04/23/2009

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