ACE Expo '99

This paper will address two issues: a summary of Maryland's law and regulations to date, and a description of University of Maryland's nutrient management software.

As a brief review, the Water Quality Improvement Act of 1998 applies to all agricultural operations that gross $2500 annually or house 8 animal units. See the Maryland Nutrient Management Manual (MNMM) fact sheet #1 for details on animal unit definitions. All agricultural operations must have a nitrogen (N) based plan by Dec. 31, 2001 and implemented by Dec. 31 date, 2002. Producers using commercial fertilizer must also have a phosphorus (P) based plan by these dates. Producers using manure or biosolids on more than 10 acres or 50% of their land, which ever is less, shall have a P based plan by July 1, 2004 and implemented by July 1, 2005.

Several new programs have been funded. Three of these include cost share for plan writing and tax credits for the purchase of manure spreading equipment and fertilizer which is purchased as a result of movement of manure off the farm. Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) has a manure matching service and a poultry litter transport pilot program.

The poultry litter transport program is designed to move litter away from regions where soils are over-enriched in phosphorus and there is insufficient cropland to utilize the manure, as determined by a nutrient management plan. For a field to receive transported poultry litter, the following guidance is given. A nutrient management plan is to be developed. If P fertility index value (FIV) is 0-50, litter may be applied according to an N based plan. If P FIV is 50-150, a litter may be applied according to P removal over a two year period, and no additional P except for starter may be used during that time. If P FIV is greater than 150, the Phosphorus Site Index will determine whether or not the field can receive manure for a P removal plan. Other handling and management requirements apply.

There are several major changes to nutrient management planning. Most of the plan requirements are set by regulations, which are currently in the approval stage. Hence any of this information may potentially change.

The phosphorus site index (PSI) is at the heart of P based planning. It incorporates the site characteristics and potential for dissolved and particulate P loss as well as the management of manure and fertilizer. A PSI will be run on any fields with a P FIV greater than 150, if any amount or form of P fertilizer is to be applied. If the PSI value is low, an N based plan will be allowed. If the PSI is medium, a P crop removal plan will be done, or a nutrient management plan will be followed. A PSI in the high range means that no P for crop removal is allowed. However, if a nutrient management plan calls for P (it will for a very few crops), P can be applied. Starter will be allowed. When PSI indicates very high likelihood of P transport off the site, no additional P will be allowed. Out of ground operations will use an environmental risk assessment instead of PSI.

Plans must address appropriate storage, treatment, and utilization of manure. The MNMM, which is part of the regulations, will outline BMP's. One of these BMP's is that manure will not be spread on frozen or snow covered ground. Some exceptions do allow its use in emergency situations. See MDA's MNMM fact sheet #2 for more information.

People who apply nutrients to their own operation of 10 acres or more will also be required to obtain a nutrient applicator voucher. The voucher is given to anyone who completes a 2 hour course on nutrient use and application every 3 years. Maryland Cooperative Extension will offer these courses throughout the state. Persons who are certified will not require a voucher. Custom applicators will have to be certified.

As a result of the new legislation, farmers should keep good records. Record actual yields on a field by field basis. In the absence of these records, yield will be determined according to soil productivity, or by using yield data from fields with similar soils and management. Producers should keep accurate records of all nutrients applied - type, amount, and product analysis. In addition, method of application and days to incorporation of nutrients will need to be known to write a plan. Farmers should keep receipts for all fertilizer material purchased and document why he makes changes to his plan, if this becomes necessary. Plans should be kept for the previous 3 years. For a consultant to complete a NM plan, the producer should provide tillage and crop rotation information, particularly for current and previous crop, previous fertilizer, manure (3 years), and sludge (9 years) use, and yearly manure production.

The University of Maryland nutrient management planning software output provides a majority of the farmer, field, crop, and nutrient information required in a plan. Guidance documents and a cover letter are used for any additional information required by law or useful in implementing best management practices on the farm. At this time, requirements for plan content under the new law have not been finalized.

The strengths of the University's nutrient management planning software (FERTREC) include the fact that since it was developed in accordance with Maryland's laws, it automatically includes most essential information. The software is streamlines for readability, handles a large number of farms and fields per farmer, requires minimal data entry for updating plans, and produces multiple recommendations, which will be useful for farmers who don't know what crops will be planted at the time the plan is written.

FERTREC is currently a DOS program but is in the process of being converted to a Windows based program, requiring Windows 95/98/NT. Either the current or new version will import and convert values from a variety of soil test labs, consider mineralization and volatilization factors for manure and biosolids, calculate NPK reductions, fertilizer dollar savings, and produce recommendations for fertilizer or manure use and application timing, for either P or N based plans. The Post Sidedress Nitrate Test (PSNT) is currently a part of the FERTREC software. PSI and soil loss determination software will be incorporated within the next 3 years, as will greater manure planning capabilities. The new software will contain help screens, a tutorial, and be able to produce electronic reports. Eventually it will be available for on-line submission over the internet.