Dairy Nutrient Management
Nutrient management is the practice of utilizing your on farm nutrients (manure) in a way that maximizes forage and crop growth, protects natural resources (soil, water, and air), and increases the efficiency and productivity of your farm. Manure should not be viewed as waste product, but rather as a valuable nutrient asset that when used responsibly, can increase the tilth and productivity of your soil, maximize crop and forage growth, and reduce the import of chemical fertilizer onto your farm.
The Objectives
- Supply nutrients to plants in ways that will optimize forage and crop yields
- Minimize the entry of nutrients to surface and ground water as well as the air
- Maintain or improve the chemical and biological condition of soil
What Is Needed for Nutrient Management
- Systems for collecting, storing, and applying manure
- Nutrient analysis - Soil and manure testing
- Nutrient budgeting and balancing
- Record keeping
- Resource and critical area protection
- Adaptive management
Application Risk Management (ARM) System
Part of properly managing your nutrients is knowing how to apply them in such a way that minimizes the risk of resource pollution, while also maximizes availability to plants. This ARM system was developed by WCD to help you through the process of properly assessing, managing, and reducing the risks associated with applying manure to your fields. The system is meant to be used in conjunction with your Nutrient Management Plan, which lays out the risks associated with your farm fields and how to individually manage them. The ARM analysis should be used year round, but is particularly important during periods of high risk (Oct-March).
This system expects to:
|
Click here if you would like to know more about this system or would like your dairy to be able to participate in the ARM Program.
