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Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan (CNMP)

Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan (CNMP) - Information for Technical Service Providers (TSP)

NRCS teams up with agencies, industry, Resource Conservation Districts, universities and others to help dairy producers plan how to store, use, and profit from their manure nutrients. NRCS is a member of California Dairy Quality Assurance Program (CDQAP).

Preparing a CNMP can be a simple or complex process, depending on the size and complexity of the animal operation. It typically requires knowledge in engineering, agronomy and crop nutrient management, erosion control practices, irrigation systems, and water management in order to adequately assess and manage water and manure associated with animal feeding operations, and control runoff. Producers may find it necessary to enlist the help of one or more technical experts when preparing a CNMP. A certification program has been established for persons offering to prepare CNMPs to assure certain standards are met.

Obtaining Certification to Prepare CNMP for NRCS

There are four areas of certification required to prepare a CNMP: (1) evaluation of facilities and equipment for handling and storage of manure and storm water, (2) nutrient management for land application of manure, (3) runoff and erosion control from land, and (4) conservation planning. Although one person could obtain all four certifications, it is more typical for CNMPs to be developed by a multi-disciplinary team of specialists (e.g. an engineer, an agronomist and a planner).

Becoming a Technical Service Provider (TSP)

National Technical Service Provider (TSP) certification qualifies individuals or entities to provide services to producers through NRCS financial assistance programs. Persons interested in becoming a TSP must register on the national NRCS TechReg website. The website lists several certifications available including those pertaining to CNMPs. Subject knowledge requirements; training and experience requirements; an on-line registration form; and training resources are available on the TechReg website. For assistance, contact Alan Forkey (alan.forkey@ca.usda.gov).

TSPs who provide CNMP services in California are required to follow the "Procedures for Developing CNMPs – August 2008" listed below unless the producer owns or operates a dairy regulated by Regional Water Quality Control Board 5's Order R5-2007-0035 (Waste Discharge Requirements General Order for Existing Milk Cow Dairies). Producers regulated under the General Order can choose to have a full CNMP prepared or an alternative CNMP that utilizes documents prepared in accordance with the General Order. The revised guidelines are attached below under "Alternative California CNMP Procedures for Dairies under the General Order". Listed tools and other documents or their equivalent must be used. NRCS will review and approve the initial CNMP completed for each TSP. To avoid delays, TSPs are strongly encouraged to work with NRCS staff during the development of their first CNMP.

Contact NRCS Nutrient Management Team for assistance:

Engineering

Agronomy

CNMP Training materials provided at the CNMP TSP training session of April 2008 can be downloaded from the CNMP Training page.

California CNMP Preparation Process (Full Process)

The following documents describe and support the CNMP preparation process. NRCS uses the Manure Management Planner (MMP) Tool as part of the CNMP plan.  Click here for more information on this program. If you would like the latest copy of one of the files below, please contact a Nutrient Management team member.

  • Procedures for Developing CNMP's - August 2008 (PDF; 1.3 MB)
  • CNMP Worksheets Linked in Spreadsheet Format (Beta5 version) (XLS; 2.3 MB) - Revised 8/2009
  • Original version of the forms needed to prepare a CNMP
  • Dairy Planning Tool (XLSM; 459 KB) - Revised 8/2/2011
  • WS 7-X Field Schedule (DOC; 35 KB)
  • CNMP Signature Page (DOCX; 35 KB) - Updated 4/28/2010
  • Manure Management Planner Quick Reference Guide (DOC; 1 MB) - Revised 4/2010
  • California CNMP Documents for Manure Management Planning (ZIP; 133 KB) - Revised 4/2010
Alternative California CNMP Procedures for Dairies under the General Order

Milk cow dairies operating under the California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Central Valley Region (RB5) General Order No R5-2007-0035 are required by regulation to develop a Nutrient Management Plan (NMP), Waste Management Plan (WMP), and adhere to a specific Monitoring and Reporting Program (MRP) which includes Annual Reporting (AR). Documents developed specifically to meet regulatory requirements contain many of the same assessment components required in a Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan (CNMP) developed with NRCS California. Alternative procedures have been developed specifically for Dairies operating under General Order No R5-2007-0035. This process is streamlined to utilize required regulatory documentation where applicable. Any entities not subject to these specific regulations and producers opting to have a traditional CNMP developed should follow procedures outlined in the latest revision of Procedures for Developing CNMPs (NRCS, California).

The following document summarizes the timeline and many of the reporting requirements set by the dairy regulations adopted for the Central Valley in May 2007, and associates them to the existing CNMP documents. If you would like the latest copy of one of the files below, please contact a Nutrient Management team member.

  • Comparison of CNMP Process to Regional Board 5 Milk Cow Regulations (XLS; 331 KB)
  • Alternative CNMP Preparation Procedures for RB5 Dairies (PDF; 207 KB) - Updated 4/2010
  • WS 7-X Field Schedule (DOC; 35 KB)
  • CNMP Signature Page (DOCX; 35 KB) - Updated 4/28/2010
  • Original version of the forms needed to prepare a CNMP

Note: The NMP must include nutrient application timing that meets NRCS guidelines described in the file for Alternative California CNMP Procedures for Dairies under the General Order. If appropriate timing is included in the NMP prepared for RB5, then the following document templates can be used to complete the CNMP. If you would like the latest copy of one of the files below, please contact a Nutrient Management team member.

  • Document Template for RB5 Data CNMP no MMP (DOT; 107 KB) - New 4/2010
  • Document Template for RB5 Data PAD no MMP (DOT; 76 KB) - New 4/2010

Note: An NMP that lacks appropriate nutrient application timing can be supplemented using MMP to develop the Manure Application Planning Calendar and Planned Nutrient Applications required in an NRCS CNMP. These documents produced by MMP may need some additional information for particular crops to show when nutrients are to be applied within certain months. Guidance for this is in the file Alternative California CNMP Procedures for Dairies under the General Order. The following document templates have been developed to work in conjunction with MMP. The Manure Management Planner Quick Reference Guide describes how to properly install the templates so they can be accessed by MMP to develop the CNMP document.

  • Manure Management Planner Quick Reference Guide (DOC; 1 MB) - Revised 4/2010
  • California CNMP Documents for Manure Management Planning (ZIP; 133 KB) - New 4/2010

Click here for more information on the Manure Management Planner (MMP) program.

Technical Materials Needed to Prepare a CNMP

The documents below support the full and alternative CNMP development processes. If you would like the latest copy of one of the files below, please contact a Nutrient Management team member.

  • Phosphorus Index Technical Guidance (DOC; 93 KB) - Updated 4/16/2010
  • Phosphorus Index (XLS; 33 KB) - Updated 4/16/2010
  • Guide for Estimating Plant Available N in Manure (Oregon) (PDF; 1 MB)
  • Whole Farm N Balance (PDF; 207 KB)
  • Silage Corn N Use (XLS; 20KB
  • Winter Forage N Use (XLS; 25 KB)
  • Assessing Dairy Infrastructure for Applying Lagoon Water as a Fertilizer (PDF; 1 MB)
  • Guidance for Using Organic Fertilizers (Oregon) (PDF; 602)
  • Using Organic Fertilizers (Oregon)  (XLS; 364 KB)
  • Manure characteristics, sampling, testing and handling guide (PDF; 1.2 MB)
  • Nebraska Manure Management Planning Guide (PDF; 1.1 MB)

CNMP Implementation

The following documents describe technical requirements for receiving Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) cost-share for nutrient management. This is intended to be part of a larger plan that includes all engineered improvements on the dairy and cropland needed to adequately manage manure, as appropriate for the producer.

The file titled AFO Manure Nutrient Management describes required activities and provides detailed instructions to be used when implementing this practice for cost-share. The file titled AFO Nutrient Management Procedures provides detailed sampling protocols. Please request and review both files.

  • AFO Manure Nutrient Management (DOC; 79 KB)
  • AFO Manure Nutrient Management Procedures (DOC; 86 KB)

The following documents are tools to assist producers or consultants to implement CNMP planning or implementation. If you would like the latest copy of one of the files below, please contact a Nutrient Management team member.

  • Estimating N applied with irrigation water (XLS; 49 KB)
  • Estimated NPK Removal for Forage and Silage Crops (XLS; 53 KB)
  • Plan and Record of Nutrient Applications (XLS; 134 KB)

Additional references and tool, including more information on Nitrogen and Phosphorus, are available on the CNMP support materials page.