Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans (CNMPs) - Links to Certification Information, Regulations and Planning Tools

Certification Requirements - USDA-NRCS Policy Requirements for CNMPs

• General Manual, Part 409 - Conservation Planning Policy.  http://policy.nrcs.usda.gov/scripts/lpsiis.dll/GM/GM_180_409.htm

• National Planning and Procedures Handbook (NPPH), Part 600.5 Comprehensive Nutrient Management Training Technical Guidance.  http://policy.nrcs.usda.gov/scripts/lpsiis.dll/H/H_180_600_E_5.htm

Certification Courses 

Specific courses are required for certification as a TSP for various CNMP elements.  These courses are provided by the USDA-NRCS National Employee Development Center (NEDC).  All require online registration.  Some of the courses can be completed online while others require more extensive work.  USDA eAuthentication is required for accessing NEDC courses.  You may obtain an eAuthentication online at http://www.eauth.egov.usda.gov/.

• Conservation Planning Modules 1 - 5:
  http://www.nedc.nrcs.usda.gov/catalog/consplan.html

• Introduction to Water Quality Course:
  http://www.nedc.nrcs.usda.gov/catalog/introdh20.html

• Agricultural Waste Management Systems Level 2 Course:
  http://www.nedc.nrcs.usda.gov/catalog/agwaste2.html

• Nutrient Management and Pest Management Considerations in Conservation Planning:
  http://www.nedc.nrcs.usda.gov/catalog/nutandpest.html

• Introduction to the Field Office Technical Guide (on-line course)
  http://www.nedc.nrcs.usda.gov/fotg/index.html

• Field Office Technical Guide (FOTG)
  http://www.in.nrcs.usda.gov/PlanningandTechnology/fotg/fotg.htm

South Carolina Animal Agriculture Regulations

• Regulation 61-43:  The Standards for Permitting Animal Agricultural Facilities
  http://www.scdhec.net/water/regs/r61-43.pdf

Tools that can be used to develop a CNMP in South Carolina

• Animal Waste Management (AWM) - A planning/design tool for animal feeding operations that can be used to estimate the production of manure, bedding, process water and determine the size of storage/treatment facilities. The procedures and calculations used in AWM are based on the USDA-NRCS Agricultural Waste Management Field Handbook.  
  http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/awm/awm.html

• AFOPro - AFOPro is a standalone nutrient management planning tool, with optional connections to GIS (ArcView, Customer Service Toolkit, SNMP) and the NRCS’s AWM engineering software. The application automates manure allocation decisions based on form source, timing, method of application, time to incorporation and nutrient risk associated with the field. The design architecture is open and it is readily adaptable to different state crop, nutrient risk and Nitrogen accounting requirements.  http://www.esri.sc.edu/Projects/usda/application_development/afopro.asp

• CNMP Template - This template incorporates all CNMP requirements from NRCS standards and policies found in the Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan Technical Guidance which includes the NRCS General Manual Title 190 part 402, the Nutrient management (590) and Waste Utilization (633) standards. It also has an Executive Summary to highlight important information for the producer, as well as, a cross reference to South Carolina Regulation 61-43: Permitting of Animal Agricultural Facilities.  http://www.esri.sc.edu/Projects/usda/application_development/afopro.asp

• The following documents require Microsoft Excel.
  
  CNMP Checklist (139 KB)--A tool to use in determining if a plan meets CNMP criteria.  All items on the checklist must be included or justification given as to why it is not needed.
  CNMP Producer Checklist (975 KB)--A tool for a producer to gather all applicable information in order to develop a CNMP.  This list is not all inclusive.  Other information may be required.

Finding the South Carolina Phosphorus Index  

• A field assessment tool to evaluate phosphorus risk. http://efotg.nrcs.usda.gov  - To access the Phosphorus Index please use the following directions once you have linked to the above mentioned webpage (from which the SC-PI calculator can also be downloaded.)

1. Choose South Carolina  

2. Choose any county 

3. Choose Section IV on the left hand side and then choose Tools

4. Choose SC Phosphorus Index 

• A phosphorus index (PI) or phosphorus risk assessment has been designed to use in conjunction with AFOPro. The downloadable zip file will place the file in the correct location. http://www.esri.sc.edu/Projects/usda/application_development/afopro.asp

• A standalone Phosphorus Index (PI) (Phosphorus Risk Assessment) calculator.    http://www.esri.sc.edu/Projects/usda/application_development/afopro.asp

• South Carolina Fertility Recommendations Tool – Fertility recommendations for crops in South Carolina as prescribed by Clemson University Extension Circular (EC476), Nutrient Management for South Carolina Based on Soil Test Results. http://www.esri.sc.edu/projects/usda/application_development/fertrec.asp

• ReportMaster – A tool to develop which pulls data from appropriate databases to use in developing a CNMP.  
  http://www.esri.sc.edu/projects/usda/application_development/reportmaster.asp

References

• South Carolina Supplement 1 to the NRCS Animal Waste Management Field Handbook –  
  http://www.esri.sc.edu/Projects/usda/CNMPLiterature/NRCS_SC_Suppl/SC_Ag_Waste_Sup1.pdf

• Clemson University Extension Circular (EC476), Nutrient Management for South Carolina Based on Soil Test Results.  http://www.clemson.edu/agsrvlb/myweb10/

• Clemson University Agricultural Services Laboratory – Soil and manure analysis.  http://www.clemson.edu/agsrvlb/

• NRCS Soil Data Mart – South Carolina NASIS soils information http://soildatamart.nrcs.usda.gov/

• USDA-NRCS Agricultural Waste Management Field Handbook (AWMFH), NEH, Part 651. http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/awm/awmfh.html

• South Carolina Confined Animal Manure Manager Program – A required course, as per R. 61-43, for producers in South Carolina.  The course material has very useful information on manure production, nutrient management, manure management, dead animal disposal as well as other issues.  Poultry, swine, and dairy each have species specific modules.  http://www.clemson.edu/camm/

Site for other training for TSPs

• CNMP Certification Course from Iowa State University.  A complete training and certification course to become certified in all CNMP elements.  Various elements require specific certifications which cannot be obtained through the course such as professional engineering license which must be obtained throughout the state in which you are practicing.  http://www.abe.iastate.edu/wastemgmt/cnmpcertification.htm

Contact

Stephen T. Henry, P.E.  
Environmental Engineer
Phone: 803.765.5350
Email: stephen.henry@sc.usda.gov

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