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BACKGROUND
The Spring River and Elk River Basin have been identified as having degraded watersheds due to livestock nutrient loading. The James River Basin is identified as having degradation from riparian degradation, sediment and nonpoint source pollution. The area communities derive much of their economic base from agricultural production, but the rocky terrain of the area and minimal soil depths make much of the area unsuitable for row-crop production, so residents have developed a stable economic base through dairy and beef cattle production and confinement poultry operations. The concentration of livestock and poultry numbers, combined with the poor soil conditions and lack of good management practices, allows nutrient laden manure and litter to run off area pastures and enter the waterbodies of the area. To maintain or improve the quality of life and provide economic stability for the watershed residents, nutrient management planning and implementation to reduce nonpoint source pollution from the livestock industry is essential. Nutrient management plans document work with individual producers on strategies they have developed to reduce nutrient loading due to over application or poorly managed manure spreading. Nutrient management planning efforts need to reach beyond the farmers producing the manure. Large amounts of manure can be exported from the farm that generates the manure to other farms. Spreading records of poultry growers associated with a packing plant in Sedalia Missouri indicate that over 60% of the litter produced on farms is exported. Nutrient management planning will likely lead to a higher percentage of manure being exported from the farm. Solving nutrient problems requires providing nutrient management planning opportunities to farmers receiving manure as well as farmers who generate the manure. Therefore, it is important to target both farmers with livestock and farmers that receive manure for land application on cropland, hayland or pastureland.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The project will focus on the development and implementation of a standardized nutrient management planning process using digital mapping resources and computer software that meets NRCS nutrient management standards and was developed by the University of Missouri and Purdue University. The project will target producers and landowners land-applying manure in a five county region in southwest Missouri for a pilot area. Lessons learned from the pilot portion of the project will be incorporated into "train-the-trainer" sessions designed to create nutrient management teams of NRCS, SWCD and UOE personnel. All individuals on the team will receive hands-on training on how to use the computer program and other digital nutrient management resources to develop accurate and efficient nutrient management plans. The project will accelerate the rate of BMP implementation because the plans use producer information and input, agency personnel will receive quality training and the computer software will increase the number and the quality of nutrient management plans written.
OBJECTIVES
Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) estimates that it currently requires 150 hours to collect necessary farm operation information, write a nutrient management plan and work with the producer to implement the plan. They estimate it would take 32 full-time employees, 9 years to write nutrient management plans for all livestock and poultry operations in the state of Missouri. Farmers that receive manure also should have plans, which would require additional planning resources and time. This project will train agency personnel and private consultants to use computer-assisted processes to expedite the development of nutrient management plans for farm operations that use manure/litter as a form of plant nutrients. The project will deliver a computer-assisted model that uses producer input, technical assistance and computer based decision support for the development of realistic nutrient management plans. The project has three phases:
1) develop training guide and class;
2) pilot the guide in the Elk, James and Spring River Basins; and
3) provide statewide "train-the-trainer" on-site sessions to develop resource teams throughout the state. The intent of the project is to provide computer software and other digital resources to increase the efficiency of agency personnel and private consultants developing nutrient management plans for farmers and to increase the effectiveness and quality of the plans. By using these resources, it is expected that the time necessary to write a nutrient management plan will be reduced by 50%.
Specific project objectives are as follows:
1. Implement a computer-assisted model for nutrient management planning that combines producer input, technical assistance and computerized decision support;
2. Increase producer knowledge and understanding about watersheds and water quality concerns and issues;
3. Facilitate development of nutrient management plans with farmer input to reduce nonpoint source pollution from agriculture runoff and leaching;
4. Encourage participants to implement nutrient management plans and work with local agency contacts;
5. Develop a brochure to increase awareness of the project and a website and list-serve to facilitate communication among nutrient management planners and promote discussion about resolving challenges in the nutrient management process;
6. Create a statewide network of NRCS, Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) and University Outreach and Extension (UOE) personnel capable of working together in nutrient management planning processes with the ability to use the tools necessary to expedite the development and implementation of nutrient management plans.
METHODS EMPLOYED
The University will:
1. Hire and supervise a Project Manager (1.0 FTE) that will develop and coordinate the nutrient management planning classes.
2. Hire and supervise a Computer/Technical Support Specialist (0.5 FTE) to support the computerized program for the pilot area and the statewide trainers as the program is implemented.
3. Ensure that all financial and progress reporting requirements are satisfactorily met.
The Project Manger will:
1. Develop materials for a manual used for the nutrient management course that will meet NRCS nutrient management planning standards.
2. Organize and present "train-the-trainer" sessions that will create a minimum of 3 training teams of 5 to 7 nutrient planners to pilot the project in the Elk River, James River and Spring River Basins (priority watersheds).
3. Work with the 3 training teams in the priority watersheds to train a minimum of 150 producers, yielding a minimum of 60 new or enhanced nutrient management plans.
4. Revise the manual and curriculum, using experience gained while working in the pilot area and the Interagency Technical Working Group as an advisory resource.
5. Develop and implement a quality assurance program to insure nutrient management plans being developed meet NRCS standards.
6. Deliver statewide "train-the-trainer" sessions to train at least 120 selected individuals organized into a minimum of 17 nutrient management planning teams statewide that will yield at least 60 new or enhanced nutrient management plans using the curriculum and the computer support.
7. Serve as a resource for the statewide teams implementing the program.
The Computer/Technical Support Specialist will:
1. Develop a supplemental manual for the trainers on how to use the computer software.
2. Provide training in the use of the nutrient management software and other digital resources.
3. Provide technical assistance to nutrient management trainers and producers using the program.
4. Resolve technical issues encountered by people using the digital nutrient management resources.
5. Create and maintain a web site for disseminating nutrient management resources and updates to the nutrient management planners and producers.
6. Create and maintain a list-serve to promote communication among nutrient management trainers and producers.
PRODUCTS
1. Project introduction brochure.
2. Training/Resource notebook.
3. Supplemental technical guidance manual.
4. List-serve and website.
5. A minimum of 120 computer assisted nutrient management plans.
PROJECT SPONSOR
University of Missouri-Columbia, Outreach and Extension
COOPERATING AGENCIES
Natural Resource Conservation Service
McDonald, Barry, Newton, Jasper, and Lawrence Soil and Water Conservation Districts
CONTACT
University of Missouri-Columbia, Outreach and Extension
Curators of the University of Missouri
Sponsored Program Administration
University of Missouri - Columbia
310 Jesse Hall, Columbia, MO 65211
Dr. John Lory, 573-884-7815
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