Utilizing Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans (CNMP) to Improve Livestock Operations Performance

摘要

Livestock operations in the United States continue to grow and tend to concentrate in various locations across the country. This places stress on available resources and increase the risk of environmental concerns. With added regulatory pressures, increased biosecurity, changing climate, limited application acreage and growing urban fringe near animal operations, it is essential that owners and operators manage to meet these and other issues. To help these livestock operations manage their resourcesmore efficiently, one approach is to develop a Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan (CNMP). The purpose for developing a CNMP is to help owners and operators of animal feeding operations (AFO) to manage manure and organic byproducts by implementing a system of conservation practices and management activities. The site-specific plan is designed to address soil erosion, air and water quality resources concerns. In developing a CNMP, the landowner determines which practices best meet the livestock operational objectives. The planning process provides the landowner the opportunity to review the operation's management and incorporate innovative and precision technologies into the operation. Resource concern evaluations occur at both the farmstead and landtreatment areas. Nutrient management coordinates management of the amount, source, placement and timing of animal waste land applications for proper utilization. A CNMP provides a record of decision for planned practices and proposed implementation dates that are useful for permitting purposes and other regulatory requirements.