Fall 2004
Manure management plan changes
by Jeremy Klatt, Nutrient Specialist, Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Several changes were
made in the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) rules for manure
management plans (MMPs). These changes were effective August 25, 2004,
for confinement feeding operations that are required to file MMPs with
the DNR. The changes include some additional requirements for nitrogen
based manure application and for recordkeeping. Also, after October 25,
2004 those producers who have not submitted an original MMP to the DNR,
will need to incorporate the phosphorus index into their next plan submittal.
Confinement dairy operation
Revised
requirements
Producers will no longer be allowed to apply nitrogen
(N) at one-and-one-half times the N rate when soil tests indicate that
low or very low soil phosphorus
(P) or potassium is present. If an MMP has already been developed for
this fall using the one-and-one-half times N rate, those rates can be
used for fall manure application provided the phosphorus or potassium
concentrations are below optimum levels. However, MMPs must be updated
before submitting the 2005 annual update to the DNR to reflect this rule
change. Producers are asked to indicate this change on the MMP update
short form.
Recordkeeping
Starting August 25, 2004, producers must keep records of several new items
in addition to the records that are already required. These new items
are:
- Optimum yield for the planned crop
- Types of nitrogen credits and amounts
- Remaining crop nitrogen needed
- Nitrogen content and first year nitrogen availability of the manure
- Maximum allowable manure application rate.
Producers will still be required to keep records of the date, location, rate and method of manure application.
Also effective August 25, 2004, producers must keep their current MMP within 30 miles of the production site. Finally, don’t throw out those old application records because effective August 25, 2006, producers will be required to have five years of records on file instead of three.
Producers will need to record the following items in addition to the above recordkeeping requirements when the P index is required:
P content of the
manure
If P-based rates are used, indicate the crop rotation that the rate is
based on and the P removal of that rotation
The DNR has developed a new recordkeeping form that producers may use. This form is available at www.iowadnr.com on the DNR’s animal feeding operations page. The manure management plan rules can also be found on DNR’s animal feeding operations page.
