Do Shore Farmers Need a Nutrient Management Plan?

Eastern Shore Soil and Water Conservation District-Every Best Management Practice (BMP) offered through the VA Agricultural Best Management Cost Share Program requires a current Nutrient Management Plan.  Every acre enrolled in a BMP needs to be included in the plan.  This includes not only cropland acres but pastures, specialty crops, and acres used for hay production. A producer is responsible for contacting either a private planner or the State planner through DCR to have the plan written or revised.

Once a planner has been contacted, the planner will request soil sample results and crop rotations from the producer. A soil sample represents no more than 20-25 acres. The soil sample is then sent to the Virginia Tech Soil Sampling Lab or a private lab for testing and the results will be sent to the producer. The soil sample results have to come from a DCR approved lab and cannot be more than 3 years old. If manure is used on the land, a manure analysis is also required. The producer must submit the soil sample results to the planner. After the planner receives the soil sample results, a nutrient management plan will be written.

Plans are typically written or revised on an annual basis but some farms are eligible for 3 year plans. Nutrient management plans are critically important for not only the producer but for the environment as well. Following a nutrient management plan may increase profitability by applying the right amount of fertilizer to produce top yields without wasting the producers money and decrease over-fertilizing that can be harmful to the environment.

Right fertilizer source at the Right rate, at the Right time and in the Right place!

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Wayne Creed

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