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Records essential for nutrient management

Regardless of their size, livestock producers need to properly manage nutrients and keep detailed records of nutrient management practices.

If a producer applies manure and rain causes runoff, the only proof that there was no over-application is the detailed record, said Tamilee Nennich, and animal scientist with Purdue Extension.

“I think it’s actually one of the most important things,” Nennich told Brownfield during an interview Wednesday, “because if a producer says they did the right thing and their neighbor says they didn’t, the only way they can actually prove that they did the correct thing, is through their records.”

Manure carries a high nutrient value depending on the price of fertilizer, but Nennich says that’s variable.

“Even from farm to farm we can see a lot of variation in nutrient value, and we do see some variation between species,” said Nennich, “but it also depends on how that manure is stored, like in dairy operations if you’re flushing it and adding a lot of water, those nutrient levels are going to be lower just because you’re diluting them down.”

Purdue Extension, the Indiana Soybean Alliance and the Indiana Corn Marketing Council are providing free nutrient management record-keeping calendars.

The calendars have inspection reminders and space for producers to keep records.

Copies of the free calendar are available by contacting Nennich at 765-494-4823, or emailing her at tnennich@purdue.edu.

AUDIO: Tamilee Nennich (5 min. MP3)

  • To the Editors,
    Thank you for promoting nutrient management planning. We in government try to promote the financial benefits as well as the environmental benefits, but you are right on track with the record keeping being vital for proof of doing it right. As we get further into the Clean Water Act requirements and streams are assessed for TMDL (Total Maximum Daily Load), farmers will be coming under closer scrutiny if there are pollutants above the limits in the streams. Having records to verify this will be very important. Thanks again for your part in educating the ag community.

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