Nutrient Management Plans Help Maximize RO; Learn More September 8

The price of farm inputs has skyrocketed to record levels over the past year, making it even more important for area farmers to make the most of the nutrients they apply to their farm fields to maximize their return on investment. That’s why Ashland Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) is hosting a hands-on workshop to help farmers put the pencil to the paper and crunch those numbers into a usable plan.

A Nutrient Know How Conservation Chat will take place on September 8 in the Ashland County Office Building at 110 Cottage Street to provide hands-on education and instruction to help producers take their farm records and plans and turn those into a voluntary nutrient management plan.

“Voluntary Nutrient Management Plans - or VNMPs as we call them - are really the foundational planning step for a lot of conservation programs,” said Katie Eikleberry, Ashland SWCD conservation specialist. “These plans start by looking at your soil nutrient levels, then we look at the crop nutrient needs for the year. Once we know those two factors, we can calculate the most efficient way to get the crop what it needs for the year.”

As part of the nutrient management process, farmers plan for their expected crop rotation and build a multi-year place.

“Nutrient management plans are really the foundation for planning your crop and nutrient needs for your farm,” Eikleberry said. “And this year, for the first time, we were able to help producers apply for cost-share funding through the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District to develop nutrient management plans for their farms.”

Although Ashland County farmers are not currently able to participate in the state’s H2Ohio agricultural conservation programs and cost share, Eikleberry hopes that those programs will continue to expand into Ashland County in the next year or so.

“This is a great opportunity for farmers to start the process of putting together a nutrient management plan for their farm, not only because these plans are designed to help them make the most efficient use of their nutrient dollars, but also because if and when H2Ohio programs become available in our county, having an up-to-date VNMP is the foundational, first practice for that program and has to be done before farmers can apply for other practices,” said Eikleberry. “This is a great opportunity for farmers to be proactive in getting their VNMP in place so that they can take advantage of future opportunities that may come our way.

The Nutrient Know How Conservation Chat will be held in the Board of Elections meeting room, and two sessions will be offered: 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. There is no cost to attend, but registration is required to ensure adequate space, staffing and materials. Registrations can be made by calling the SWCD office at 419-281-7645.

Farmers should bring current soil tests, field maps, and farm records and be prepared for a hands-on work session to complete their VNMP that day with plenty of on-site guidance and instruction. Farmers are encouraged to bring their own laptop as well if they have one available.