If you would like to have a Nutrient management plan (NMP) or plan update written for your farm, contact the District. We write and update these plans for producers IN Somerset County and surrounding areas. NMPs written by the District satisfy the requirements for the State Nutrient Management Law and protect producers under Maine’s Right to Farm Law.

What is a nutrient management plan (NMP)?

A NMP is a document that provides guidance on how nutrients are stored, managed and utilized on the farm for which it is written. It assesses the natural resources of the farm and surrounding area and provides an operating plan to minimize environmental impacts from the farm. There are different types of nutrient management plans, so the first step is to determine which one you want and need: a State Certified Nutrient Management Plan or a Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans (CNMPs) developed with the USDA-NRCS.

State Certified Nutrient Management Plans:

These satisfy the State of Maine Nutrient Management Law requirements and are required if farms meet certain conditions below:

a brown cow looks at the camera, sandwiched between black and white cows' backs

Farms that confine and feed 50 or more animal units at any one time.
Farms that store or utilize more than 100 tons of solid manure of 25,000 gallons of liquid manure or compost per year not generated on that farm.
Farms that are the subject of a verified complaint of improper manure handling.
Farms that store or utilize regulated residuals.

Any farmer may decide to have an NMP developed for their farm, regardless of size or other conditions. The development of a plan could be beneficial to the farm not only for the important information it contains, but also for Right-to-Farm protection from nuisance complaints.

What does a typical NMP include?

Information on the animal units on the farm
Storage and utilization of manure and off-farm nutrients on all land, including leased and/or rented land
Calculation of crop nutrient needs
Soil erosion control plan
Soil tests for each field where manure will be applied
Manure testing
Vegetated treatment areas and/or filter strips included in the plan
Exclusion of livestock from waters of the state
Site-specific dates for spreading manure
Timeline for implementation of the plan
Setbacks for manure spreading

How do I get an NMP?

The State of Maine has a list of certified individuals who can write plans. There are approximately 60 nutrient management planners certified to write and approve Plans in Maine, including Somerset County SWCD staff. A list of these planners may be obtained from the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry (See contact below). Alternatively, the Plan may be written by the farmer and then approved by a certified planner.

What is the process for developing a plan for my farm?

The selected nutrient management planner will likely start with a site visit to your farm to see the operation and get general information about number of animals, animal housing, manure storage and use, manure application, farm land base, etc. Soil and manure tests will need to be taken by the farmer or planner and sent for analysis. Once this is done, the planner will draft a NMP and then sit down with the farmer to go over the recommendations for the farm. Once the farmer signs the plan, notification is sent to the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.

Once the plan is written, what happens next?

The farmer follows the NMP and keeps the required records. NMPs must be updated (with new soil and manure tests) and re-approved by a certified NMP specialist at least every 5 years.

For further questions on NMPs:

Contact Mark Hedrich at the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry (DACF)

Email: Mark.Hedrich@maine.gov Phone: 207-287-7608

Useful information may also be found in this fact sheet.

Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans:

Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans (CNMPs) are conservation plans developed in conjunction with NRCS. These plans document the practices and management activities that will be adopted by the operator to address natural resource concerns related to soil erosion, water quality, utilization of manure and waste water, and disposal of organic by-products. These plans satisfy the State of Maine Nutrient Management Law requirements AND requirements for Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) applicants for cost-share assistance for agricultural waste practices.

What does a typical CNMP include?

A farm description with resource assessment, needs, and farm goals
Erosion assessment for fields, and chosen management options to address erosion
A record of decision of planned practices
Soils maps and Conservation Plan maps showing manure spreading setbacks and sensitive areas
A sketch of the farmstead showing location of existing and planned structures
Catastrophic and routine carcass disposal plan
A nutrient management plan for agricultural fields, detailing manure and fertilizer application amounts by field
Recordkeeping forms

How do I get a CNMP?

CNMPs may be written by NRCS or by a Technical Service Provider (TSP) certified by NRCS. A farmer should contact their local NRCS office to start the process.

For more information, contact your local NRCS field office. For locations: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/conservation-basics/conservation-by-state/maine#contact

Somerset County office staff may be found on our Staff Page.

Two essential parts of any nutrient management plan are soil and manure sample analysis.

A landowner can do this sampling on their own or the District can provide assistance as time allows. We are also available and happy to answer any of your questions about getting started with this process. If you are ready to get started on sampling at your farm, use the links below to obtain the needed forms with directions from the University of Maine’s Soil Testing Service.

SOIL TESTING FORM

Manure Sampling Form

Winter Spreading Ban

If you have had issues causing a delay in manure spreading that may result in a need to spread beyond December 1, Maine’s winter spreading ban start date, you must file a request for a variance.

VARIANCE REQUEST