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NRCS releases 2013 IA NM standard

October 23, 2013, Des Moines, IA – After more than a year of taking comments, making carefully considered changes, and issuing updated drafts, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) recently released the new Iowa Nutrient Management Conservation Practice Standard – the guiding document for implementing nutrient management plans for Iowa farmers.

Iowa’s 11-page Nutrient Management (NM) or 590 Standard provides farmers guidance on managing the rate, source, placement, and timing of the application of plant nutrients and soil amendments. This includes commercial fertilizer, animal manure, legume credits, green manure, and crop rotations. The standard is updated every five years.

According to Eric Hurley, NM specialist for Iowa NRCS, the NM Practice Standard helps farmers and our natural resources.

“The practice standard helps farmers plan nutrients for optimal crop production and fully utilize manure or organic byproducts as plant nutrient sources,” he said. “It also protects water quality by minimizing agricultural nonpoint source pollution and helps improve soil health.”

The National Laboratory for Agriculture and the Environment in Ames led a comprehensive revision effort, according to Hurley, with input from Iowa State University. They sought and utilized input from agricultural organizations, environmental groups, private agronomists, and other stakeholders.

Compared to the 2008 Iowa version, the 2013 version has some important changes. They include:

• Changes to “sensitive” areas: Several changes were made to the nutrient application criteria to minimize the contamination risk near water quality “sensitive areas.” Recognizing that water entering tile inlets often runs directly to a stream, they are now considered a water quality sensitive area. A 50-foot filter strip can be used in place a of a 200-foot setback when surface applying nutrients near sensitive areas. As an interim mitigation practice near tile inlets, cover crops or a no-till cropping system may be used to mitigate runoff risk. The application criteria now apply to most nitrogen and phosphorus sources, not just manure.
• New 50 Degrees or Below Provision: Iowa farmers have always been encouraged to wait to apply fall anhydrous ammonia until soil temperatures reach 50 degrees, trending colder. Now other high ammonium sources, such as liquid swine manure and MAP/DAP, are included in this criteria for fall application.
• Rescue Nitrogen Application OK: Untimely heavy spring rains caused farmers to lose large amounts of nitrogen the past several years. A new provision allows farmers a “Rescue Nitrogen Application” that permits an additional nitrogen application when weather causes a significant loss of N. The standard specifies ways to formulate and evaluate management alternatives for rescue N applications. “Even with good management, farmers can lose nitrogen when excessively heavy rains hit their fields,” said Hurley. “Many of Iowa’s field agronomists requested this provision be included in the standard, and for good reason.”
• Additional Practices for Controlling and Trapping Nutrients: To help trap nitrogen, conservation practices such as cover crops, filter strips, bioreactors, and nutrient treatment wetlands (CREP wetlands) were added to the practice list. To control and trap phosphorus, practices such as no-till, terraces and grassed waterways that control erosion and trap sediments are included.
• Equipment Calibration: Equipment used to apply fertilizer and manure must be calibrated to assure that what is planned to be applied is actually applied. This provision is included in the Operation and Maintenance section of the Standard. Lori Schnoor, district conservationist for NRCS in Jackson County, says calibrating manure spreader equipment, for example, will benefit producers economically and environmentally. “It may take extra time to calibrate equipment, but in the long run it will save you money.”
• Yield Goal Now Realistic Yield Potential: Any reference in the old standard to “Yield Goal” was changed to “Realistic Yield Potential” in the new standard. This change provides for simpler ways to estimate yield to determine nutrient removal rates.
• Manure Testing Requirement: A lab certified through the Minnesota Dept. of Agriculture Manure Testing Laboratory Certification Program (MTCP) will be used to complete manure tests. 
• Biosolids Included as Plant Nutrients: Biosolids, like sludge and food processing waste, are now included as sources of plant nutrients, recognizing that they are also a valuable fertilizer source.
• Guidance for Adaptive Nutrient Management: This provision encourages producers to conduct on-farm research to make better nutrient management decisions. “We encourage farmers to set up their own on-farm strip trials to test nutrient management practices,” said Hurley.

The Iowa Nutrient Management Standard is available on the Iowa NRCS website at www.ia.nrcs.usda.gov. Click on the Iowa Conservation Practice Standards link under Helpful Links on the home page.