Virginia to offer nutrient management training in January

MIDLOTHIAN, Va. — The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation’s Nutrient Management Program will offer a two-part agriculture nutrient management training school in January. The school is for anyone interested in learning about the development of agricultural nutrient management plans or how to become a certified nutrient management plan writer.

The first session, Jan. 9-10, is a lecture series by Virginia Tech professors on soil science, soil fertility and crop production. The two-day soils and crop lecture series will be hosted through Microsoft Teams.

The second session, Jan. 14-16, will cover nutrient management plan writing using a case-study farm. The three-day plan writing training will be in-person at Brightpoint Community College in Midlothian, Virginia.

Each day will run from 9 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Registration is $150 for each session with a deadline of Dec. 30. Registration is available online at www.dcr.virginia.gov/soil-and-water/nmtrain.

Nutrient management continues to be an important factor in a farmer’s decision-making process when considering application of materials to supply nutrients to crops and forages. Nutrient management plans determine rates for applying manure, fertilizers, biosolids and other soil amendments so that yields are maximized, and nutrient loss to ground and surface waters is minimized. Application rates are determined by a process using actual yield records or soil productivity when yield records are not available.

Contact Stephanie Dawley at 804-382-3911 or Stephanie.Dawley@dcr.virginia.gov for additional details.