NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT
Definition:
Managing the amount, source, placement, form, and timing of the application of nutrients and soil amendments.
Background:
All Wisconsin farmers are required, by the State of Wisconsin, to have a nutrient management plan in place that meets the NRCS Nutrient Management Conservation Practice Standard (the so-called “590 Standard”). The NRCS guidelines for cranberry nutrient management are included within Wisconsin Conservation Planning Technical Note WI-1, which is a companion document to the 590 Standard. Visit the Wisconsin NRCS Technical Notes webpage to download a copy of Wisconsin Conservation Planning Technical Note WI-1.
The WSCGA continues to coordinate with NRCS, UWEX, and DATCP to provide technical assistance and training to Wisconsin cranberry growers to develop their own nutrient management plans. Alternatively, growers may contract with a professional agronomist to have a nutrient management plan developed to satisfy the state's requirements.
Financial assistance for nutrient management may be available through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) or the WSCGA. Contact your conservation planner, your local NRCS office, or the WSCGA for more information.
Links:
Technical Standards
USDA - NRCS Electronic Field Office Technical Guide: Section IV of the eFOTG includes the NRCS Conservation Practice Standards, including Nutrient Management (590).
Wisconsin NRCS Technical Notes: Wisconsin Conservation Planning Technical Note WI-1 may be downloaded from this website; it includes guidance and optional worksheets for writing a nutrient management plan in Wisconsin.
Cranberry Nutrient Management Worksheets (49 KB): Fillable, Microsoft Excel worksheets that may be used in the development of a nutrient management plan.
Regulations and Law
State of Wisconsin Code ATCP 50 (Wisconsin Soil and Water Resource Management Program): This chapter of state code includes the requirements for nutrient management on Wisconsin farms.
Wisconsin DNR Agriculture Performance Standards and Prohibitions
Education, Publications, and Planning Aids
Wisconsin Cranberry Crop Management Library: Includes cranberry nutrient management publications and links to the Cranberry Crop Management Newsletters and Cranberry School Proceedings.
UW-Extension Publications: Follow the link to "Farming" → "Soils" → "Soil Management" to download or order Sampling Soils for Testing (A2100) or Nutrient Application Guidelines for Field, Vegetable, and Fruit Crops (A2809).
Top Ten Questions (52 KB): Q&A sheet, by Michael Stinebrink, NRCS Resource Conservationist, summarizing 10 frequently asked questions about cranberry nutrient management.
Maps
NRCS Web Soil Survey: An online application from the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) that may be used to generate soil maps.
DNR Maps: An online mapping utility, provided by the Wisconsin DNR, which can be used to generate farm maps based on aerial photography or topographic maps.