Nebraska Begins Revising Nutrient Management Standard After National Update

LINCOLN, Dec. 27, 2011 – Local nutrient management specialists with the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will be working for the next several months to update Nebraska’s nutrient management standard (or 590 standard) after Secretary Tom Vilsack announced USDA’s revised national standard. USDA updates this conservation practice standard at least every five years to reflect the latest technologies and agency objectives.

Nebraska NRCS has until Jan. 1, 2013, to adapt the Nebraska nutrient management standard to meet the new criteria and standards. Similar to the national process, NRCS will work with the University of Nebraska, the Nebraska Department of Agriculture, Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality, industry, producer and environmental groups and other partners to incorporate these updates to match Nebraska agriculture and resource protection goals. The public will be invited to comment on any proposed changes.

Key changes in the national standard include:

• recognizing the widespread adoption of variable rate technologies to plan and apply fertilizers and providing specifications on how to plan and report their use.
• introducing a national nutrient risk tool (Nutrient Tracking Tool)  to assess risk of nitrogen and phosphorus loss through surface runoff and leaching and to help determine where to implement management practices for the most positive environmental impacts.
• standardizing State Phosphorus Index Tools.
• providing guidance on using on-farm knowledge to adaptively manage nutrients.
• addressing the risk of applied nutrients to snow-covered and frozen ground and saturated soils and planning conservation practices and management strategies as needed.
• requiring manure testing analyses by laboratories meeting performance standards of MTLCP.

The goal of this conservation practice standard is to help producers better manage the application of nutrients on agricultural land, save producers money and protect or improve surface and ground water, air quality, soil quality, and ag sustainability. The nutrient management standard helps producers apply available nutrient sources in the right amount, from the right source, in the right place, and at the right time for maximum agricultural and environmental benefits.

NRCS offers voluntary technical and financial assistance to producers nationwide for planning and implementing on-farm nutrient management plans. Producers can use this assistance to help meet federal, state, tribal and local environmental regulations.

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