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Comprehensive Nutrient Management Planning (CNMP)
 

What's New?
 

  NRCS Nutrient Management and Agency Partners: How they work together  (Requires Microsoft PowerPoint)Presentation describing NRCS 590 Practice Standard and CNMP planning in the context of Pennsylvania's Nutrient Management Program.

  Field Office Worksheet for TSP TechReg and State Office Verification (Requires Microsoft Word)

 

  PA CNMP Code 100 Approval Checklist for CNMPs Completed by TSPs (Requires Microsoft Word)

 

 

 Click here for important information regarding CNMP, TSP, and EQIP contracts.

 (Document Requires Adobe Acrobat)

 Farmer/TSP instructions for completing the PA CNMP signature page and checklist.
 

Plan Development Resources and References


NRCS CNMP Press Release (6/11/2007)
Pennsylvania Farmers and Technical Service Providers (TSPs) now have an opportunity to work together to develop Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans (CNMPs) under a new USDA initiative. (Read more)

What is a CNMP?

A Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan, or CNMP, is a conservation plan that is unique to animal feeding operations. An animal feeding operation or AFO is categorized as a lot or facility where: (1) Animals have been, are, or will be stabled or confined and fed or maintained for a total of 45 days or more in a 12-month period; and (2) where crops, vegetation, forage growth, or post harvest residues are not sustained in the normal growing season over any portion of the lot of facility.  A CNMP is a grouping of conservation practices and management activities which, when implemented as part of a conservation system, will help ensure that both production and natural resource protection goals are achieved.  For specific information on AFOs by county in Pennsylvania, visit EPA Region III.  To determine if an operation is a concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) go to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) on CAFOs.

 

Become familiar with Comprehensive Nutrient Management Planning Technical Guidance National Planning Procedures Handbook Part 600.5. Click Here

 

CNMP Statement of Work

Review Pennsylvania's CNMP Statement of Work, which concisely lists all components of a complete CNMP. (requires Adobe Acrobat)

 

The development of a CNMP requires a comprehensive engineering and conservation planning resource assessment of current site conditions. Management options and structural alternatives are developed to address resource concerns identified during the assessment.

At a minimum, CNMP documentation is required to address soil erosion, excess sediments and excess nutrients degrading water quality.  Problems found should be treated to sustainable levels for the land associated with the AFO. Conservation planning activities associated with the CNMP, however should attempt to achieve a CNMP that addresses quality criteria to the Resource Management System (RMS) Treatment Level for all five natural resources (soil, water, air, plants, and animals).


Total Plan Approval

A Certified Conservation Planner must approve a total CNMP including Environmental Compliance.

 

Technical Element Approval

Each technical element of a CNMP must be approved by a specialist certified for each element. The technical elements are:

 

    1.     Manure and Wastewater Handling and Storage
    2.     Land Treatment Practices
    3.     Nutrient Management (on land where nutrients are applied)

    4.     Record Keeping (non-technical element)
    5.     Feed Management (optional, as needed)
    6.     Other Utilization of Manure (optional, as needed)

 

 

CNMP Information


Elements needed to complete the CNMP
The following items must be included in a CNMP stand-alone plan. The following links provide guidance for developing these elements:


o Manure and Wastewater Handling and Storage
o Land Treatment Practices
o Nutrient Management
o Recordkeeping (requires Adobe Acrobat)

o Feed Management (The Feed Management elements will be utilized beginning October 1, 2008.)

o Other Utilization Options (optional, as needed)

o Environmental Compliance Documentation

o CNMP Checklist and signature page document (requires Adobe Acrobat)

 

Refer to Pennsylvania's CNMP Statement of Work (requires Adobe Acrobat) for a concise listing of all required CNMP components.

Record Keeping

Record keeping is a task completed solely by the owner and/or operator and is not an element that involves an approval by a certified specialist. The CNMP includes record keeping guidance to the landowner/operator.

 

TSP Certification for CNMP Plan Approval

 

Certified Specialists

Each CNMP, except record keeping, is technical in nature and requires a certain level of acquired expertise to adequately address. The ability to adequately address a specific element of a CNMP requires the planning and implementation of conservation practices that address the resource concerns identified by the specific element. An individual that demonstrates a competency in planning and implementing conservation practices associated with one or more of the specific elements of a CNMP are qualified for the designation "certified specialist."

 

Certification Program
Participating TSPs are required to be certified by NRCS through the TechReg process. Click here to learn more about the TechReg process.

 

Minimum requirements for certification are established for certified specialists who approve developed CNMP elements. The NRCS state conservationist has established a certification program to satisfy these requirements.

For qualifications required of TSP to become certified to develop individual CNMP elements and to become a certified conservation planner click here. (requires Adobe Acrobat)
 

CNMP plan approval certification is required to approve the total CNMP package including all technical elements and environmental compliance documentation.


Certification for Optional, As Needed Elements

The elements Feed Management and Other Utilization Options are considerations in the planning process and do not require NRCS element certification at this time.  The Feed Management elements will be utilized beginning October 1, 2008.

 

Quality Assurance
NRCS will review the first CNMP developed and approved by each TSP either as a stand-alone document or as a technical element component of a complete CNMP developed jointly with other TSPs certified for remaining technical elements.

 

 


NRCS State Contacts for CNMP


Click here for a list of state contacts.