Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan Development Process
Farmers need updated Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans (CNMPs) to receive cost share assistance on projects to address resource concerns. Based on our experience as a Technical Service Provider (TSP) helping farmers, the process can be confusing. The purpose of this article is to break the process down into steps in order to clarify the role of the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), Agri-Waste Technology, and the farmer.
Process
Step 1. Visit your local USDA-NRCS office and talk with your District Conservationist about the availability of cost share funds. If eligible and funds are available, sign up to receive cost share assistance to develop a CNMP.
Step 2. Wait for NRCS to notify that your application has been approved.
Step 3. After you have been notified that your application has been approved, contact Agri-Waste Technology to discuss your project and your timeline.
Step 4. Gather the following information and send it to Agri-Waste Technology.
___ Contact Information Name, Phone Number, Email Address, Mailing Address
___ Signed Contract Agri-Waste Technology will prepare a brief contract detailing what we will do, how much it will cost and when we will invoice you.
___ Current Soil Sample Reports (frequency of sampling required is dictated by regulatory agency or NRCS Conservation Standard 590-Nutrient Management in your state).
___ Current Manure Analysis (frequency of sampling required is dictated by regulatory agency or NRCS Conservation Standard 590-Nutrient Management in your state) If your facility is in operation, please provide a copy of your most current manure analysis. If your facility is not in operation then we do not need a manure sample. The NRCS will allow us to use a book value of the manure nutrient content.
___ Maps of the fields to which you will be land applying (preferably FSA maps). Make sure that road names are printed or written on the maps for ease of locating the property. Please match the soil sample IDs with the corresponding field maps.
___ Headquarters map showing the location of the production barns (or planned location) if possible. At
minimum, please provide the physical address of the farm for us to locate the headquarters.
___ Spreading Agreements from the landowner giving you (the producer) permission to apply manure to their property. ** Please note that spreading agreements are necessary even if you lease the land. Also it is required that you include the landowner’s current phone number on the spreading agreement.
___ Broker Agreement. Sometimes a producer decides it will be most beneficial to export their manure to a broker instead of land applying. If you plan to export your manure then please provide a copy of your broker agreement.
___ Permit. If your facility is in operation then please provide a copy of your Permit to Operate.
Step 5. Agri-Waste Technology will contact you to schedule a visit to your farm at your convenience.
Step 6. Agri-Waste Technology will visit you at your farm to tour your farm and discuss your operation and any concerns you may have that you would like to address.
Step 7. Agri-Waste Technology will prepare the CNMP, sign it and send copies to you to review, sign and submit to the NRCS for approval.
Step 8. NRCS will review the CNMP and request revisions or approve the plan.
Step 9. Upon approval of the plan, the NRCS will direct deposit funds into your bank account and Agri-Waste Technology will invoice you and send you additional copies for regulatory submittal (if applicable).
Step 10. Mail check to Agri-Waste Technology.
Step 11. If there are revisions required upon submittal to the regulatory agency, Agri-Waste Technology will make those revisions at no additional cost unless there are changes on the farm that occur between the approval by NRCS and the review by the regulatory agency that require revisions.
