Comprehensive Nutrient Management Planning
A Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan (CNMP) is a total planning tool that details the animal production-related activities for a specific farming operation. A CNMP describes a farm’s production practices, as well as the equipment and structure(s) used. It combines conservation practices with management activities to create a system that addresses animal production operations, from feed inputs to the utilization of animal manure.
A CNMP can help farm managers comply with regulatory requirements as well as protect water quality, obtain more benefits from the animal manure and organic by-products of the operation, and minimize negative impacts to the environment and public health.
Our Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan
Since 2000, we’ve had a Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan in place. Our family prides itself by employing best management practices in the course of implementing our nutrient management plan including:
Monitoring tile lines before and after manure application.
Larson Acres has been and will continue to monitor tile line outlets both before and after manure applications.
Surface tilling some fields prior to manure application and incorporation.
Surface tillage will be used on notably dry fields prior to manure application as it is an effective way to break down soil macro-pores.
Utilizing a strip till manure applicator.
Larson Acres utilizes a strip till manure applicator that does not disturb the top soil profile during application. The benefit of this strip till technology provides a new application method that increases crop residue thus reducing the amount of soil loss and runoff potential.
Applying manure twice a year on double cropped fields to minimize nutrient losses.
Split applications of manure help minimize nutrient losses as application rates are lower in each time period.
Monitoring precipitation, soil moisture, crop growth and predicted precipitation to schedule manure application.
Larson Acres will continue to work with the University of Wisconsin-Extension and its agronomist to evaluate new ways of monitoring the environmental and economic performance of our nutrient applications on tiled and non-tiled agricultural fields and strive to apply and utilize nutrients as efficiently as possible.
Nutrient Management Planning at Larson Acres
Ed Larson explains in further detail the management practices associated with Larson Acres' Nutrient Management Plan.
ISS Manure Management Named a Best Management Practice by State of Wisconsin officials
Larson Acres has worked closely with
Integrated Separation Solutions (ISS) to incorporate
a wastewater treatment plant tailor-made to fit
our dairy operation.
The technology developed by ISS makes sense for the dairy farm community. It eliminates the need for agitation which reduces the odors coming from dairies. Partitioning manure into different products allows the right nutrients to be cost effectively applied to fields that can use them, reducing the risk of runoff. And, with fewer trucks hauling manure to far-off fields, it means more peace of mind for dairy producers and the communities in which their businesses operate.
Our ISS wastewater treatment facility
has benefits for our environment, our animals and
our community. The facility:
Allows for the recycling of sand for use as bedding.
Allows for safer application of manure solids for reuse as fertilizer and soil conditioner.
Replaces most of the fresh water used in our previous system with recycled water.
Reduces the volume of liquid manure that must be stored at the site and landspread on crops.
Optimizes nutrient content of manure for use as fertilizer.
'Tea Water': a low nutrient by-product ideal for irrigation
Jamie Larson
discusses the benefits of using "Tea
Water," a by-product of our wastewater
treatment facility. The wastewater treatment
plant has been named a 'Best Management
Practice' by state of Wisconsin officials.
The "Tea Water" allows Larson
Acres to apply nutrients to their crops
only where and when it is most needed.
