Nutrient Management Home

Southern Vermont Nutrient Management

Agriculture Resource Specialist

Land Treatment Planning

Nutrient Management Page

Gathering water samples.

Nutrient management involves managing the type, timing, and application of nutrients (whether as animal waste, commercial fertilizer, or other form of nutrients) to plants. The purpose is to supply plant nutrients for optimum pasture and crop yields, minimize entry of nutrients to surface and groundwater and maintain or improve the condition of the soil

The basic elements of nutrient management planning include: livestock manure and wastewater management, nutrient budgeting for farm soils and animal feeds, and resource conservation through appropriate land management practices. Nutrient management plans are developed to address the needs of individual farmers as well as applicable regulations and other resource conservation goals.

In Vermont, guidelines, regulations, and resources exist to help encourage good practices that will ensure high water quality. The following are a list of the most common of these:

Accepted Agricultural Practices: These are guidelines that are required of anyone owning any livestock, including dairy, beef, goats, chickens, horses, and sheep. Some examples include the ban on spreading manure in the winter, and riparian buffer management requirements. The complete guidelines are available at the VT Agency of Agriculture.

Large Farm Regulations: Farms with greater than 700 mature dairy cows, (950 beef cattle, 475 horses, or 2375 swine over 55 lbs), for example; are required to meet the standards of Vermont's Large Farm Regulations. Complete details are available at: www.vermontagriculture.com.

Medium Farm Regulations: Farms with greater than 200 but less than 700 dairy cows must meet the guidelines of the Medium Farm Operations regulations. (Other species are also addressed, including beef, horses and chickens). Complete details are available at: www.vermontagriculture.com

Resources:

There are a number of resources, both financial and educational, to help farmers understand the state and federal guidelines, meet mandated requirements, and work towards a farming system that protects water quality and increases farm sustainability.

The Southern Vermont Nutrient Management Program (SVNMP) is a joint project of the Poultney-Mettowee, Rutland, Bennington, Washington, Ottaquechee and Windham Conservation Districts. The program aims to improve management practices and increase farm sustainability while also working to maintain and improve local water quality. Two employees, Jennifer Durham and Bruce Howlett, currently work one-on-one with agricultural producers, as well as coordinate educational events in the SVNMP region .

Land Treatment Planners:
Conservation District employees develop the land treatment plan sections of Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans. Their services are free of charge and confidential. The LTP for the Poultney Mettowee District is Cindy Watrous.

Agricultural Resource Specialists (ARS):
The Agricultural Resource Specialist assists farmers in the implementation of Accepted Agricultural Practices and other natural resource programs. The ARS for the Poultney Mettowee District is Sylvia Harris.

Natural Resources Conservation Service:
NRCS employees coordinate the programs of the USDA Farm Bill, develop contracts for cost-share of practices, and implementation of projects on farms. For more information about the Farm Bill programs, contact the Rutland field office at 775-8034, or visit www.nrcs.usda.gov.

State cost-share programs:
In Vermont, funding has been set aside through the Agency of Agriculture to help farmers develop Nutrient Management Plans, and to implement various on-farm practices. Further details are available here.

Further information about these programs is available at the PMNRCD office at 287-8339, pmnrcd@sover.net, or the office of the Southern Vermont Nutrient Management Program, 287-2250.