intro to nutrient management
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Intro to Nutrient Management. Robert Habel Urban Nutrient Management Specialist Department of Conservation and Recreation 804-371-7489 [email protected]. The Ultimate Goal of The Virginia DCR’s Nutrient Management Programs are Improving Virginia’s Water Quality and - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Robert HabelUrban Nutrient Management Specialist
Department of Conservation and Recreation804-371-7489
Intro to Nutrient Management
The Ultimate Goal of The Ultimate Goal of The Virginia DCR’sThe Virginia DCR’s
Nutrient Nutrient ManagementManagement Programs are Programs areImproving Virginia’s Water QualityImproving Virginia’s Water Quality
andandPROTECTING THE CHESAPEAKE BAY!!PROTECTING THE CHESAPEAKE BAY!!
2008 Bay Health Report
100% Health/Production Based on 1600’s Exploration Narratives from
Captain John Smith
2010 Bay Health Report
2010 Value Shows the Bay at 31% Health“Dangerously Out of Balance”
2010 Bay Health Report• Based on 3 factors
– Fisheries
2010 Bay Health Report• Based on 3 factors
– Fisheries– Habitat
2010 Bay Health Report• Based on 3 factors
– Fisheries– Habitat– Pollution
Primary Pollutants
• Nitrogen and Phosphorus are the “Limiting Factor” to Achieving Bay Health
• Limiting Factor: anything that tends to make it more difficult for a species to live, grow, or reproduce in its environment
• All other health score areas are affected by excess nutrients
Primary Pollutants
• Life within rivers, streams, lakes and bays could not occur without nutrients
• Eutrophication – an excess of nutrients – causes ecological problems
Primary Pollutants
Progress is being made with Point Sources• A point source of pollution is a single
identifiable localized source– State Of The Art Sewage Treatment Plants
– Factory Discharge Regulations
More Must Be Done To AchievePollution Reduction Goals
•Nonpoint source pollution is from many different indistinguishable
sources with no specific solution to rectify the problem
– Agricultural Runoff– Urban Runoff
2000 study estimated that nearly all N and Pexported from watersheds in Mid-Atlantic from
nonpoint sources.
BAY WATERSHED
60% of Virginia Drains into the BayThe Remainder Drains to
Gulf of Mexico and Albermarle Sound
www.epa.gov
Cities, parking lots, roads, neighborhoods etc…
Impaired Waters
While most Legislation and Policy deal directly with the Health of
The Chesapeake BayLocal Waters are Improved as Well.
Virginia Department of Conservation & Recreation
The Nutrient Management Program is administered by DCR because we have the responsibility for managing non-point source pollution management program in Virginia.
Urban and agricultural lands are considered non-point sources when we consider nutrient and sediment loss to ground and surface waters.
Nutrient Management Program
Regulations first adopted January 1996– Nitrogen management required, Phosphorus optional
• Revised January 2006– Nitrogen and Phosphorus management required– Expanded criteria to include recommendations for
athletic fields, golf courses, and sod production
Nutrient Management Certification and Training Program
Nutrient Management Certification is a voluntary program
Nutrient management plans are not required except for:
– Animal operations with Va Pollution Abatement permits or Federal Permits
– Certain biosolids application criteria require a plan– Participation in certain Ag Cost Share practices– State Lands receiving nutrient applications– Golf Course by 2017
Nutrient Management Planning
A Nutrient Management Plan means a plan prepared by a Virginia certified nutrient management planner to manage the amount, placement, timing, and application of manure, fertilizer, biosolids, or other materials containing plant nutrients in order to reduce nutrient loss to the environment and to produce crops.
Nutrient Management Planning
The goal of nutrient management planning is to minimize adverse environmental effects of nutrient loss, primarily upon water quality, and avoid unnecessary nutrient applications.
Nutrient Management Planning
It should be recognized that some level of nutrient loss to surface and ground waters will occur even by following a nutrient management plan, however losses should be lower than would occur without a plan.
Nutrient Management Certified Planners
Total Number of Planners - 383 Ag Category - 341 Turf & Landscape Category - 77 Both Categories - 35
As of February 2011
Activity Report – Acreage for 2010
New /Revised
Crop Alfalfa Hay Pasture Specialty Crop
Turf & Landscape
Total Acres
New 72,892 1,055 19,391 5,976 15,042 228.34 114,584
Revised 177,448 498 17,495 4,985 356 649.57 201,432
Grand Total
250,340 1,553 36,886 10,961 15,398 877.91 316,016
Plan Writing Opportunities in VA?
Potential Acres, Turf & Urban Lands – 1,332,729
Preliminary Goal for Planned Acres– 333,182
Currently Reported Acres – 27,000
Nutrient ManagementTraining and Certification
ProgramEducationExperienceExam
Education and Experience• Ag-Related
Degree– Agronomy– Horticulture– Forestry– Geology
• 1 Yr. Nutrient Management Job-Related Experience– Fertilizer
Salesman– Golf Course
Superintendent– Lawn Service
Operator– Landscaper– SWCD Employee
Education and Experience
• Nutrient Management Related Training– Work related
Training– College Short
Courses– Nutrient
Management Training School
• 3 Yrs. Nutrient Management Job-Related Experience– Fertilizer
Salesman – Golf Course
Superintendent– Lawn Service
Operator– Landscaper– SWCD Employee
Certification Exam
• 100 Multiple Choice Questions• Subject Matter Listed in Knowledge
Areas• Two Parts
– Core 75 Questions: First 9 Knowledge Areas•Closed Book
– Practical 25 Questions: Mainly 10th Knowledge Area•Open Book- VA Nut. Man. Standards and
Criteria
Certification Exam
• 3 Hours Allowed for the Exam– 1 hour + for each part
• Held First Friday of February & August
• Application Submitted 30 Days Before
• Application Fee $100• Results Released by Mail 45-60
Days After Exam
Certification Application Statement
• 7. I hereby apply for nutrient management certification in accordance with the provisions of 10.1-104.2 of the Code of Virginia, agree to comply with the Nutrient Management Training and Certification regulations, and certify that the above information is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge.
Exam Tips• Pick Best Answer
– Use information listed in question– Do not over think question
• Environmental Optimum Does Not Apply– Pick Closest Numerical Given in Answer– Read Questions Carefully: Look for
words like•NOT• Increase or Decrease•Most or Least
Certificate Renewal• Certificates expire after two years
– Expire on the last day of the month issued• You will receive a renewal application
about 45 days before certificate expiration
• $100 renewal fee• List meetings attended for Continuing
Education Credits– 4 Credits needed if plan(s) written– 8 Credits needed if no plans written– Va. Nut. Mgt. Credits, NOT GCSAA or CCA
Credits– Excess credits cannot be carried forward
Reporting and Record Keeping
Annual Activity Reports
Plan Inspections
Annual Activity Report
• Report by September 30 of each year
• Plan Writing Summary by acres and hydrologic unit for period from July 1 through June 30
• Report form supplied by DCR
Record Keeping•MAINTAIN PLAN RECORDS FOR 3 YEARS
• Soil samples; dated not later than 3 yrs. prior to date plan was written
• Copies of soil survey maps, or soil survey for each field, (unless soil survey not published)
Record Keeping• A list of all plans prepared
– Landowner or operator name– Date plan was prepared of revised
Inspections• Review plan content for
compliance with Regulations and Standards and Criteria
• Make recommendations• Discuss with Planner
– Ways to improve plans– How to handle unusual situation(s)– Plan writing progressively improves
Nutrient ManagementCertificationFor Exam Applications
Ms. Susan Jones(804) 443-6752
Questions?Robert Habel