1. Rich Koenig Soil Specialist Utah State University
Why CNMPs?
Rich Koenig
Soil Specialist
Utah State University

2. Situation
You are out on the farm telling a producer he/she needs to develop a CNMP
He/she asks:
“Why?”

3. How do you respond?

4. Response = message
“You have to do this to qualify for government cost-share money”
“This is just another government program. Develop the thing, put it on the shelf, and you will be okay”
(if it’s done properly) “A management plan (of which a CNMP is part) might help you and your operation be more profitable, run smoothly, be sustainable…”

5. Consider...
How you respond and the message you send will determine the success or failure of this program
This may very well be the most important step
Convincing the producer of the need and value of a CNMP
Getting producer buy-in or ownership

6. Consider…
The success of this program will not be measured in the number of plans prepared but in the impacts
Implementation and documentation
Water quality impacts

7. Why CNMPs? ?

8. Why CNMPs Many complex issues driving livestock industry regulations
The National Strategy does a poor job of making the case for CNMPs

9. Why CNMPs? Water quality issues Social/political issues
Government regulation issues
Environmental stewardship issues
Economic issues

10. Direct proof of agriculture’s contribution to water quality problems
Water quality issues
Pfisteria
Eutrophication
Nitrates, phosphates,
pesticides, bacteria
State 303d lists
Public experience and perception
Direct proof of agriculture’s contribution to water quality problems

11. California Dairy example
5 San Joaquin Valley Dairies, ~1000 AU and 125 acres each
44 shallow groundwater monitoring wells around facilities
Nitrate-N levels frequently as high as 100 mg/L
Why?
Sandy soils
Residual soil nitrogen levels as high as 1000 lb N/acre
No credit given for manure and wastewater N

12. Social/political issues
The world is becoming more crowded, putting more pressure on limited resources
What once was okay now may not be
Generally, greater environmental awareness on the part of the public
Farmers comprise less than 5% of the U.S. population
Third party lawsuits
Point source industries point to farmers and say clean up your act, we did

13. Government regulation
Clean Water Act
Can’t pollute water
State regulations
National AFO Strategy
Voluntary program or
“Last chance” for animal agriculture to clean up its act

14. Environmental stewardship
The role and image of farmers as environmental stewards
Need for documentation or proof of environmental stewardship
If you don’t know…, …can’t document…, …can’t prove…, etc., why should I believe you are an good environmental steward?

15. Economic issues
Managing agricultural wastes (manure, etc.) is a net cost
Cost of livestock waste management is not accurately reflected in the price of the commodities
Dairy example (B. Godfrey, USU):
Cost $200 per cow per year
Cost $1.10 per 100 lb milk

16. CORE 4 Data

17. Economic issues
Managing agricultural wastes as a resource can reduce the cost, but there is still a net cost
Dairy example:
N and P value = $56 per cow per year
N and P value = $0.31 per 100 lb milk

18. Why CNMPs?