Manure Manager

Features Regional Regulations
Workshop teaches about NMP software


June 23, 2009  by  Marg Land

June 23, 2009, West Lafayette, Ind. – Crop consultants, farmers, and
National Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) and Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) employees are welcome to attend the first
Nutrient Management Plan Development Workshop, July 21-22.
June 23, 2009, West Lafayette, Ind. – Crop consultants, farmers, and National Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) employees are welcome to attend the first Nutrient Management Plan Development Workshop, July 21-22.

The event is being hosted by Purdue University's Department of Agronomy.

The workshop will be at the Beck Agricultural Center at the Purdue Agronomy Center for Research and Education (ACRE), located near West Lafayette.

The workshop will focus on developing nutrient management plans (NMPs) from a software perspective.

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The first tool that will be discussed is the Missouri Clipper website where planners can download aerial imagery and spatial and tabular data needed to start the planning process.

The second software tool that will be discussed is Map Windows Geographic Information System. The Map Window GIS software is a tool planners can use to draw field boundaries, application setbacks, sensitive features and conservation practices based on data retrieved form the Missouri Clipper website.

The third piece of software that will be discussed is the Manure Management Planner (MMP). This software is where the majority of the planning process occurs, including soil erosion and other risk assessment calculations. It can be used to create a nutrient management plan or a Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan (CNMP) that will meet the national planning requirements for both NRCS and EPA .

MMP is the only software that is supported by both EPA and NRCS to meet the nutrient management plan requirements of both agencies. MMP currently is available for use in 34 states and is downloadable for free at http://www.agry.purdue.edu/mmp/.

All workshop participants will receive continuing education units.

Workshop enrollment is limited to 60 people, and the $125 registration is due by July 1. If room is available after July 1, registration will be $150. Registration includes two catered lunches. A downloadable registration form and agenda is available by clicking here.

The Beck Agricultural Center is located at 4540 U.S. 52 West.

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