1. Section 5.1 – Strategic & Annual Planning
Nutrient Management
Section 5.1 – Strategic & Annual Planning
Adapted CNMP Core Curriculum
Presented by:
Roberto Maisonnave, Ag Engineer & M. Sc.
International Environmental Consultant
CNMP Core Curriculum

2. Objectives
Difference between long term strategic planning and annual ( tactical ) planning.
Understanding of a whole farm concept considering nutrient flows and balance on the farm.
Source and flow of nutrients on farm and the factors affecting a nutrient balance.
CNMP Core Curriculum

3. Implementation or Annual Plan
Planning Process
Inventory
TSP has primary responsibility
Review as Necessary
Strategic Plan
Plan Modification
Producer typically has primary responsibility
Implementation or Annual Plan
Speaker Notes:
One example of an approach to the planning process is illustrated. It suggests using a five-step planning process, of which three of those steps are reviewed every year. This scheme is designed to integrate the long-term and short-term planning process for the producer and advisor to follow with the means to make plan modifications as needed. Typically the TSP has primary responsibility for the strategic plan and annual planning process but the producer has responsibility for implementing and documenting the annual plan implementation.
Required Course Materials:
Supplemental Resources:
Suggested Learning Exercise:
Annual
Review
Documentation
& Records
CNMP Core Curriculum

4. Whole Farm Nutrient Balance
Gas Emissions
Inputs
Managed
Outputs
Feed
Meat/Milk/
Eggs
Animals
Speaker Notes:
A major goal of developing a CNMP is creating a whole farm nutrient balance on the farm. Assume that we have a farm boundary as illustrated with the dotted line. In a farming operation there are nutrient inputs such as feed, possibly irrigation water, fertilizer, possibly animals brought on the farm. Managed nutrient outputs include meat, milk, eggs, crops, and possibly manure that can be exported from the farm. The difference between inputs and outputs represents the amount of nutrients that must be assimilated on the farm. If more nutrients are generated in this difference than can be properly assimilated by the cropping system used on the farm a nutrient imbalance occurs. Excess nutrients will lead to nutrient losses through runoff (P-surface water pollution), leaching (NO3-groundwater pollution) and possibly gaseous emissions (ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, methane from storage structures and land application practices, N2 gas from nitrification/denitrification process, odors that are made of 150+ gases). The real issue is if these nutrient inputs and outputs are in balance. If not properly managed, nutrient imbalances can occur with buildup of nutrients on the farm to the level of potentially creating water and air (for nitrogen) pollution problems.
Required Course Materials:
Supplemental Resources:
Koelsch, R Whole Farm Nutrient Planning. Module A Lesson 2. LPES
Suggested Learning Exercise:
Irrigation
Water
Crops
Fertilizer
Manure
Legume N
Farm
Boundary
Nutrient Imbalance
(inputs - outputs)
CNMP Core Curriculum

5. The magic number Number of animals to hectares ratio
Complex relation between:
Swine farm manure handling & storage
Agricultural land availability
Ag potential: soil & cropping system
Opportunity to maximize manure fertilizer value: type and size of equipment, weather
Speaker Notes:
In the search of “Farm Nutrient Balance” farmers ask me often about the Number of animals to number of ag hectares ratio: Does a magic number exist? It does not: complex relation between swine farm management practices, land availability, ag potential of the land: soil type, texture, topography, crop yield potential and weather. Reference to the book chapter I wrote and the dutch example: exporting nutrients to other farmers.
Required Course Materials:
Supplemental Resources:
Suggested Learning Exercise:
CNMP Core Curriculum

6. Strategic Planning
Purpose: To determine if the farm has an adequate land base for long-term sustainability from a manure nutrient utilization perspective.
Speaker Notes:
The key reason for strategic planning is to determine if a farm has an adequate land base for long-term sustainability from a nutrient utilization perspective.
Required Course Materials:
Supplemental Resources:
Suggested Learning Exercise:
CNMP Core Curriculum

7. Strategic Planning Outcomes
Select nutrient management strategies that produce the greatest benefit.
2) Define procedures to implement strategies as needed in the following:
Annual cropping plan
Conservation plan
Manure export plan
Feed management plan
Speaker Notes:
Some outcomes of strategic planning is to select nutrient management strategies and evaluate different options or alternatives and determine the greatest benefit and success for a whole nutrient mass balance on the operation. A plan may define procedures to implement some strategies including the annual cropping plan, conservation plan, manure export plan and feed management plan, as needed to achieve whole farm nutrient mass balance.
Required Course Materials:
Supplemental Resources:
Suggested Learning Exercise:
CNMP Core Curriculum

8. Is my swine operation concentrating nutrients on the farm?
Speaker Notes:
Any successful nutrient management planning process should begin with the following fundamental questions:
“Is my swine operation concentrating nutrients on the farm?” and “What is the underlying cause of nutrient concentrations?”
Most nutrient related problems are associated with either a poor distribution of nutrients and or an excess of imported nutrients compared to exported nutrients.
Required Course Materials:
Supplemental Resources:
Suggested Learning Exercise:
What is the underlying cause of nutrient concentrations?
CNMP Core Curriculum

9. One-way flow of nutrients.
Region of
Excess Nutrients
Speaker Notes:
In some cases, a reason for nutrient accumulation on livestock and poultry farms is the disconnect between were the crops are grown and where the crops are fed to the animals.
It does not show up as a concern when we look at it on a county by county basis, but….whether this separation between livestock producer and crop producer may be only a few miles in contrast to a separation of greater distances and different ownership of crop and livestock production. These separations can prevent recycling of manure nutrients back to the cropping land base and there may not be sufficient land remaining on livestock farm to use the nutrients agronomically, thus excessive nutrient accumulations can result in excess nutrients on a farm that lead to air and water resource concerns.
Required Course Materials:
Supplemental Resources:
Suggested Learning Exercise:
Separation of distance and ownership drives one-way flow.
CNMP Core Curriculum

10. 2. Minimize erosion & runoff 1. Crop –Fertilizer-Manure Plan
Nutrient Strategies
Options
3. Export Manure
4. Reduce Feed Inputs
2. Minimize erosion & runoff
1. Crop –Fertilizer-Manure Plan
Region of
Excess Nutrients
Speaker Notes:
This scenario causes the producer to investigate ways of reducing the nutrient burden on the farm. One example is to develop a crop-fertilizer-manure plan that incorporates recycling manure nutrients as a fertilizer resource and reduce fertilizer inputs. (Crop rotation alternatives should be considered). Developing a conservation plan to reduce erosion and nutrient runoff is important. Consider the options of exporting manure to adjacent cropland (may be neighbor farmers land). And also, review the feed management on the farm to see if there is a possibility to reduce feed nutrient inputs.
Required Course Materials:
Supplemental Resources:
Suggested Learning Exercise:
CNMP Core Curriculum

11. Strategic Planning Methods
Mass Balance
Nutrient Generation Estimates
Manure Analysis Records
Speaker Notes:
There are three strategic planning methods or approaches: using nutrient mass balance data, nutrient generation estimates or manure analysis records.
Required Course Materials:
Supplemental Resources:
Suggested Learning Exercise:
CNMP Core Curriculum

12. Mass Balance Approach Difficult to do on nitrogen
Works well with phosphorus
Require some reference values
Speaker Notes:
Usually assumed as probably the most accurate and best approach to use, but it is very difficult with tracking nitrogen because it is such a very mobile nutrient and can be present in many forms. The mass balance approach works well with phosphorus because it is conserved within the system since it does not have a gaseous escape pathway. Required Table values (NRC) will reflect broad range of feed ingredients, Total/Available percentage of different nutrients, animal retention efficiency, etc.
CNMP Core Curriculum

13. Nitrogen Mass Balance N2 Emissions NH3 Emissions N2O Emissions
Speaker Notes:
This diagram illustrates where nitrogen losses occur. Gaseous emissions and nitrate leaching through the soil or from runoff are major pathways. Notice that often there is greater inputs of nitrogen than outputs with considerable nitrogen losses.
Required Course Materials:
Supplemental Resources:
Suggested Learning Exercise:
NO3 Losses
CNMP Core Curriculum

14. Phosphorus Mass Balance
Speaker Notes:
Since phosphorus is conserved in the system, it is easier to track with mass balance but there can be considerable losses of P from runoff. Leaching losses is possible especially with high concentrations of P in the soil (comment on my Feedyard Thesis). Again, in many cases, there is considerable inputs of P on the farm compared to outputs of P with a minimal nutrient losses.
Required Course Materials:
Supplemental Resources:
Suggested Learning Exercise:
Phosphorus conserved within system
Imbalance observed as increasing soil P levels;
Losses - Runoff is most likely; leaching possible under some situations
CNMP Core Curriculum

15. Nutrient Generation Estimate Approach (Book Value)
Fast
Easy
Book values may not be representative of the farm
Speaker Notes:
The nutrient generation estimate approach is quick and easy, but book values may not be representative of a specific farm. Accuracy is questionable with this approach.
Required Course Materials:
Supplemental Resources:
Suggested Learning Exercise:
CNMP Core Curriculum

16. Nutrient Generation Estimate Sources
NRCS AWMFH – Part 651
MWPS – 18 Section 1
ASAE Standards (D 384.2)
University publications
Speaker Notes:
There are several sources to get manure nutrient generation and composition information. The American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers generated a standard for Manure Production and Characteristics in 2003 (ASAE D384.1), updated on 2010 (D384.2). The updated standard is based on dietary adjustments and production capability of the animals. This will be the key source of nutrient generation and composition information and will be adopted by the NRCS in the Animal Waste Management Field Handbook-Part 651, Chapter 4. A new revised Chapter 4 is being developed. Other sources include recent data from the MidWest Plan Service-18, section 1 and there may be data from university publications that provide specific estimates for nutrient generation for a particular specie or geographical area.
Required Course Materials:
Supplemental Resources:
Suggested Learning Exercise:
CNMP Core Curriculum

17. Manure Analysis Record Approach
Farm Specific with real data
Availability and accuracy of manure analysis can be variable
Accuracy of manure mass or volume estimates
Speaker Notes:
The manure analysis record approach is farm specific, but can by variable depending upon how accurate the data is. Accurate information must be based upon representative samples and accurate chemical analyses. The accuracy of determining the volume or mass of the manure generated can be a problem for determining whole farm nutrient mass balance. It is a recommended approach once the farm has a history of steady operation and a decent historical database.
Required Course Materials:
Supplemental Resources:
Suggested Learning Exercise:
CNMP Core Curriculum

18. Swine Waste Variability (Sample analyses from100 Oklahoma Anaerobic Lagoons, 8 years)
TKN (mg/L)
Conductance (µS/cm)
Volatile Sol. (mg/L)
Minimum
178
3.560
695
Average
835
11.796
2.377
Maximum
1.526
26.600
6.395
Speaker Notes:
This is an example based on annual samples taken for Nutrient Management Planning purposes. The sampling period was Total number of farms in the sampling pool is 100, but not all the farms are sampled every year because land application sometimes does not happen (high evaporative rate of effluent lagoons). This explains each year sampling size: 13 to 26. Note the considerable range and variation in the composition of these samples across these farms.
Required Course Materials:
Supplemental Resources:
Suggested Learning Exercise:
100 Sow Farms, 8 years, “n” Range samples/year
CNMP Core Curriculum

19. Analyses of Samples Taken at Successive Pump-outs of Oklahoma Sow Farm
Month Pumped
Kg N/ Liters*
January 2010
45.1
May 2010
81.1
October 2010
70.6
Speaker Notes:
This table lists the nitrogen content of dairy manure from a manure storage facility on one farm. If the manure is well agitated and you are consistent in the procedure of manure sampling and removal, the analyses (in this case nitrogen content) results can be very similar. Thus, proper agitation and sampling procedures are a must to obtain a representative manure sample for chemical analysis.
Required Course Materials:
Supplemental Resources:
Suggested Learning Exercise:
* Application rate: 10 mm-ha/ha (0.39 ac-in/ac)
CNMP Core Curriculum

20. P Mass Balance * P Retention: 30% (NRC)
Finishing Pigs
(hd)
Feed Intake (kg/hd/d)
P Intake (kg/yr)
P Retention* (kg/yr)
P Excreted (kg/yr)
Bones
Soft Tissue
Blood 1
2.27
3,73
0,95
0,16
0,01
2,61
5.000
11.350
18.650
4.750
800 50
13.050
Phosphorus requirements are 4 kg P/Ton or 9.16 kg P2O5/Ton. Discussion on P removal vs requirement. Kansas do not presents a difference may be due to “raising soil P level strategy”. Argentina-Inpofos does, so considering strict removal (75% of P required) could mean 25% more land required.
*** 80% P sedimentation in Anaerobic Lagoon could mean 80% less land…
Farm Size (Pig Space)
Manure Content
Crop** Removal
Crop Land
hd/day
kg/yr P2O5
kg/ha/yr P2O5
ha/yr
5.000
29.885 92
325***
* P Retention: 30% (NRC)
** Corn, 10 Ton/ha yield, 9.16 kg P2O5/Ton required
*** No losses considered (Tank or Lagoon sedimentation?)
CNMP Core Curriculum

21. Nutrient Generation Estimate*
Finishing Pigs
(hd)
Manure Volume (lt/day)
O.M.
Volatile Sol. (kg/day)
Nitrogen (kg/yr)
Phosphorus (kg/yr) 1
3,54
0,32
8,55
3,26
5.000
17.700
1.600
42.750
16.300
Farm Size (Pig Space)
Manure Content
Crop
Removal
Ag Surface
hd/day
kg/yr P2O5
kg/ha/yr P2O5
ha/yr
5.000
37.327 92
405
*Oklahoma State University Fact Sheet
CNMP Core Curriculum

22. Manure Analysis Approach
Finishing Pigs
(hd)
Wastewater Volume* (lt/yr)
P Concentration (mg/L)
P2O5 Concentration (mg/L)
5.000
270**
618
Farm Size (Pig Space)
Manure Content
Crop
Removal
Ag Surface
hd/day
kg/yr P2O5
kg/ha/yr P2O5
ha/yr
5.000
16.918 92
184
* Based on 15 lt/hd/d water usage (Finisher site target)
** Based on Anaerobic Lagoon Sample
CNMP Core Curriculum

23. Strategic P Estimate Comparisons
Approach
P2O5 (kg/yr)
Crop 92 kg/ha P2O5
Mass Balance
29.885
325
OSU Fact Sheet
37.327
405
Manure Analysis/ volume estimate
16.918
184
Speaker Notes:
This table shows a summary comparing the estimated strategic P amounts for the example CNMP showing that with two approaches the data are pretty similar (108 and 103 acres) and the on-farm data (57 acres) considerably lower. This may be due to possibly P settling out in the earthen storage and consequent analysis from the manure storage on the example farm. In this example, 50% confinement was due to grazing for 50% of the time and not being able to collect the manure for cropland application. Note that the 50% confined value was estimated by the producer and could also help explain the difference if this estimate is not accurate.
Required Course Materials:
Supplemental Resources:
Suggested Learning Exercise:
CNMP Core Curriculum

24. Annual Planning: Where? When? How much?
Speaker Notes:
Annual planning or tactical planning involves specific details for land application of manure. It asks the questions, how much, where, and when to apply the manure? It incorporates the crop plan, manure storage plan, conservation plan and when appropriate, the feed management and manure export plan.
Required Course Materials:
Supplemental Resources:
Suggested Learning Exercise:
Annual Planning:
Where?
When?
How much?
CNMP Core Curriculum

25. Annual Planning Farmer preferences State specific requirements
Storage capacity interval: 120, 180, 365?
Available cropland: rotation and timing
Labor and equipment constraints
Weather and time constraints
Farmer may prefer different crops or cropping systems based on his history and success. Alfalfa is great for NUP but needs year round attention.
Manure application windows.
Storage interval: greatly influenced by cropping system. 120, 180, 365 days of storage? Must be considered at Facility Design Stage.
A professional Agronomist can help you finding right combination of crops to maximize manure fertilizer value.
CNMP Core Curriculum

26. Other implementation plans
Feed management plan?
Reduce feed nutrients
Nutrient Management Plan
Reduce commercial fertilizer
Improve manure utilization efficiency
Manure Management Plan
Select treatment alternatives to reduce or increase manure nutrient content
Manure export plan?
Off farm transportation and utilization

27. Take Home Message
“Whole Farm” nutrient balance is critical for the planning process that defines the magnitude of nutrient related-risks.
Strategic planning output is an estimate of future situation.
Annual plan review allows to adjust current implementation plan details.
Follow a 5-year NUP
Speaker Notes:
Here are some take home messages:
Determining the whole farm nutrient balance is critical for the planning process that defines the magnitude of nutrient-related risks. Solving AFO nutrient concerns will start with solving “whole farm” nutrient imbalances. These imbalances can result from excess feed nutrient imports, excess fertilizer usage, cropping rotation or lack of sufficient land.
2. The strategic plan should identify the preferred nutrient management strategies to be used on the farm.
3. The selected nutrient management strategies must address imbalances. The CNMP will be the operating plan for achieving the whole farm nutrient balance on an operation.
Required Course Materials:
Supplemental Resources:
Lesson 2:
Suggested Learning Exercise:
CNMP Core Curriculum

28. 5-year NUP Anticipate your: In advance plan for equipment usage
Crop rotation
Manure utilization
In advance plan for equipment usage
When properly designed it will show you the potential environmental limitations before they happen
Good long term planning makes for good short term decisions!