Why Manage Nutrients?
Utah farmers and livestock producers are responsible for producing a safe and abundant food supply. They also take pride in being good stewards of land, air, and water resources. Current production practices encourage greater concentrations of livestock. This concentration poses potential problems for environmentally-sound manure management. Runoff from farm fields and feedlots can contaminate ground and surface waters with nitrogen, phosphorus, bacteria, and sediment. Many of Utah’s water sources are used for human consumption, recreation, and fisheries, as well as irrigation. Improper handling and use of manure and inorganic fertilizer can impair the quality of these waters and cause human health problems. To address some of the issues posed by large, concentrated, operations, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) adopted the Unified National Strategy for Animal Feeding Operations in 1999. This strategy is based on a national performance expectation that all animal feeding operations (AFOs) develop site-specific nutrient management plans (NMPs). It calls for large and small livestock producers to address water quality problems, if present, and to improve nutrient management and record-keeping practices. Additional regulations were implemented with the Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) Rule in 2003, and modified in 2008 and 2012. Producers can be proactive and avoid the possibility of fines and regulatory action by voluntarily addressing water quality problems. This booklet describes successful farm nutrient management practices, and is meant to assist farmers and livestock producers in developing a nutrient management plan (NMP).