Best Management Practices BMPs

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Best Management Practices(BMPs)
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Louisiana Master Farmer Program

• Endorsed by

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Clean Water Act Goal

• Restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and
  biological integrity of U.S. waters

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Requirements of the CWA

• Requires states to develop lists of impaired
  waters (EPA approved)
• Requires states to identify pollution reductions
  needed to meet standards
• Requires reductions of both point and non-point
  source pollutants
• Requires development of TMDLs and implementation
  plans that will lead to clean water goals (EPA
  approved)

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What is a TMDL?

• Total Maximum Daily Load
• A TMDL is the maximum amount of a pollutant
  (allocated among point, non-point, and natural
  sources) that can enter a water body and still
  comply with water quality standards. It is
  required for waters not meeting state / EPA
  approved water quality standards. TMDLs must
  also be approved by EPA.

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All point and nonpoint contributors are included

• Croplands
• Pasturelands
• Animal production operations
• Forestlands
• Other industry contributions
• Homeowners (landscapes, gardens, septic systems,
  storm-water runoff, etc.)
• Municipalities (sewerage treatment)

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Agriculture and Forestry Nonpoint Source
Pollutants

• Sediments
• Nutrients
• Pesticides
• Animal Wastes
• Oil Grease

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Types of Pollutants

• Point Sources originate from a stationary
  location or fixed facility from which pollutants
  are discharged directly into a water- body.
• Examples include
• Wastewater effluent, both municipal and
  industrial
• Runoff from confined animal feeding operations
• Runoff from active mine sites and oil fields

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Types of Pollutants

• Nonpoint Sources pollution sources, which do
  not have a single point of origin or are not
  introduced into a receiving stream from a
  specific outlet.
• Examples include
• Runoff from row-crop agriculture
• Runoff from pasture and range
• Runoff from forested areas
• Runoff from lawns and gardens
• Runoff from roads, highways and parking lots
• Natural sources, such as leaves, organic
  nutrients and wildlife feces

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LOUISIANA LAND USE
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CWA Focus For First 25 Years

• Largely exempted nonpoint source (NPS) runoff
  from regulation
• Nonpoint source contributors (which includes ag
  forestry) were largely managed via voluntary
  implementation of BMPs

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Best Management Practices (BMPs)

• Ecologically and economically sound production
  practices
• Protect water resources AND
• MAINTAIN PROFITABILITY
• Based on research demonstrations
• Standards specifications published in NRCS
  Field Office Technical Guide

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Development

• 1995 Initial AgCenter BMP document developed.
  Requested by producers.
• Producers indicated that the document needed to
  be more user-friendly and the production
  practices grouped by commodity.
• 1999 Commodity committees established to
  identify commodity specific practices.
• 2000 Assembling of the commodity specific BMP
  publications began.

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Design

• Practices grouped into sections
• Soil and Water Management
• Pesticide Management
• Nutrient Management
• General Farm BMPs

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BMP Publications

• www.agctr.lsu.edu/masterfarmer

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Timeline for Nonpoint Source Watershed
Management
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CONSERVATION PLANS
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CONSERVATION PLANS

• Conservation Plans are voluntary, site specific,
  comprehensive, and action oriented plans

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CONSERVATION PLANS

• These plans contain natural resource information
  and a record of decisions made by the manager.

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CONSERVATION PLANS

• The plan describes the schedule of operation and
  activities needed to solve identified natural
  resource concerns.

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CONSERVATION PLANS

• The plan helps to ensure that the needs of the
  manager and the natural resources are met and
  that federal, state, and local requirements will
  be achieved.

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Conservation Planning !
NRCS provides conservation planning and technical
assistance to clients.
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Conservation Planning
The clients develop and implement plans to
protect, conserve and enhance natural resources
(soil,water,air,plants and animals) within their
social and economic interest.
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The conservation planning process helps the
client and the conservationist accomplish the
following
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HELP PROTECT, CONSERVE AND ENHANCE NATURAL
RESOURCES
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• DESIGN ALTERNATIVES THAT MEET LOCAL RESOURCE
  QUALITY CRITERIA FOR IDENTIFIED RESOURCE ISSUES

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• INCLUDE THE CONSIDERATION OF HUMANS CONCERNS
  TOWARD ACHIEVING SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

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• CONSIDER THE EFFECTS OF PLANNED ACTION ONSITE AND
  OFFSITE

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• CONSIDER THE EFFECTS AND INTERACTION BETWEEN
  BIOLOGICAL COMMUNITY AND SOCIETY

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• CONSIDER THE EFFECTS AND INTERACTION OF PLANNED
  SYSTEMS AND PRACTICES ON THE NATURAL RESOURCES,
  AS WELL AS ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL CONSIDERATIONS

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• ASSIST WITH DEVELOPMENT OF PLAN,REGARDLESS OF
  SCALE, WHICH WILL WILL ACHIEVE THE CLIENTS
  SOCIETYS OBJECTIVES

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The Nine Steps of Conservation Planning

• 1 - IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM OR CONCERN
• This is generally the step in which the operator
  contacts the local NRCS/SWCD Field office to
  request assistance or more information about
  technical assistance with a resource concern(ex.
  interest in establishing a rotational grazing
  system or fixing an erosion problem)

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The Nine Steps of Conservation Planning

• 2 - DETERMINE THE OBJECTIVES
• During this step the decision maker begins to
  determine practical objectives and becomes
  actively involved in the intensive thought and
  decision making process required when developing
  a conservation plan
• Final objectives are rarely determined this early
  in the planning process(This step is often
  revisited)

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The Nine Steps of Conservation Planning

• 3 - INVENTORY THE RESOURCES
• Existing features of the ranch are recorded and
  documented at this time. (Aerial photos and soil
  maps are used to determine the resource
  conditions and physical features such as location
  of ditches, existing fences, and watering
  facilities)
• Pasture conditions and animal resources are
  inventoried and recorded at this time.

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The Nine Steps of Conservation Planning

• 4 - ANALYZE RESOURCE DATA
• During this step an analysis of the data is
  conducted with the decision maker to identify,
  quantify, indicate, and address resource
  concerns.
• New concerns or opportunities usually arise at
  this time during the planning process(example
  capabilities of existing forages and/or animals
  may be realized).

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The Nine Steps of Conservation Planning

• 5 - FORMULATE ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS
• During this step several alternative plans are
  addressed and reviewed
• Actual or proposed stocking rates and the forage
  balance are often the main focus point during
  this stage of plan development.
• Set objectives are frequently considered here.

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The Nine Steps of Conservation Planning

• 6 - EVALUATE ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS
• Decision makers evaluate the proposed courses of
  action to determine which one best meets their
  objectives and solves the identified resource
  problems or concerns

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The Nine Steps of Conservation Planning

• 7 - MAKE DECISIONS
• The final decision on a planned course of action
  is made here.
• The plan is written up and plan maps(with
  features) are produced. A logical sequence of
  events is established. The conservation plan is
  completed.

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The Nine Steps of Conservation Planning

• 8 - IMPLEMENT PLAN
• The land manager and decision maker is now ready
  to implement the plan of action.
• Technical Assistance is provided to properly
  install needed practices and monitor grazing land
  conditions.
• Progress is documented in the plan.

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The Nine Steps of Conservation Planning

• 9 - EVALUATION OF RESULTS
• Results are reviewed after implementation of the
  plan has occurred.
• Ongoing technical assistance is provided to
  evaluate results and address changes in the
  managers objectives and use of new technology.

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Soil and Water Management
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Soil and Water Management

• SEDIMENT, NUTRIENTS, AND PESTICIDES ARE THE MAIN
  TYPES OF CONTAMINANTS IN SURFACE RUNOFF

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Soil and Water Management

• SEDIMENT, NUTRIENTS, AND PESTICIDES ARE THE MAIN
  TYPES OF CONTAMINANTS IN SURFACE RUNOFF
• SEDIMENT IS THE LARGEST POLLUTANT BY VOLUME OF
  SURFACE WATER IN LA. U.S.

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Soil and Water Management

• SEDIMENT, NUTRIENTS, AND PESTICIDES ARE THE MAIN
  TYPES OF CONTAMINANTS IN SURFACE RUNOFF
• SEDIMENT IS THE LARGEST POLLUTANT BY VOLUME OF
  SURFACE WATER IN LA.
• PESTICIDES AND PLANT NUTRIENTS ARE USUALLY
  ADSORBED ONTO SOIL PARTICLES

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Soil and Water Management

• Pollutants
• Soil Particle

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EROSION???
IN THE FLAT AREAS OF LOUISIANA?? (example of
non-traditional erosion areas or specialty
situations)
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WE KNOW THIS IS EROSION
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IS THIS EROSION?
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How Much Soil Is Lost Per Acre?
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PHASES OF EROSION

• DETACHMENT
• TRANSPORT
• DEPOSITION

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Primary Cause of Detachment
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Soil Detachment and Transport
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Except in Rice Production
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Water Quality Problem
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Calcasieu River Mermentau
River Vermilion River Bayou
Teche Atchafalaya River
Bayou Terrebonne Bayou Lafourche
Mississippi River
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Soil and Water Management

• Land Smoothing
• Precision Land Grading
• Irrigation Management Furrow
• Irrigation Management Pivot
• Irrigation Canal or Lateral
• Irrigation Field Ditch
• Tailwater Drop Structures
• Tailwater Recovery Systems
• Sediment Management in Surface Water

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Suspended Sediment Test Kit

• Sample after leveling
• Place water sample in test bottle
• Add pinch of alum, shake and mix
• Measure sediment after 24 hours
• Repeat
• Goal 50 sediment reduction before discharge

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Soil and Water Management

• Controlled Drainage
• Lined Waterway or Outlet
• Regulating Water in Drainage System
• Open Channel
• Surface Drainage Field Ditch
• Grassed Waterways

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Conservation practices

• Surface drainage-field ditch

• Open channel

NRCS Code 607

• NRCS
• Code 582

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Conservation practices

• Grassed waterways

NRCS Code 412
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Soil and Water Management

• Crop Residue Management
• Cover Crops
• Conservation Tillage

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Residue Management
NRCS Code 344

• Managing crop residue on soil surface to reduce
  water runoff and soil erosion
• Reduces impact of raindrops
• Slows water movement
• Increases efficiency of moisture use
• Provides food cover for wildlife
• May increase insect disease problems

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Residue Mismanagement
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Residue Management
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Residue Management
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Effects of Surface ResidueCover on Runoff Soil
Loss
Data taken from Milan Research Center, Milan, TN
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Cover Crops
NRCS Code 340

• Crops planted when the primary commodity crop is
  not growing
• Protects soils from erosion and reduces
  sedimentation
• Filters runoff waters to reduce pesticide and
  nutrient losses
• Helps to maintain or increase organic matter

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Cover Crops - Planted
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Cover Crops - Natural
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Cover Crops - Natural
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Conservation Tillage
NRCS Code 329

• Reduces soil erosion compaction
• Reduces runoff of nitrogen, phosphorus and
  pesticides
• Requires residue management
• May require greater reliance on pesticides
• Improves soil organic matter content
• Reduces cost of equipment operation

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Conservation Tillage
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Conservation Tillage
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Conservation Tillage
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Conservation Tillage
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Conservation Tillage
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Reduced Tillage
Limiting tillage operations during the growing
season can reduce the number of operations from
as many as 4-12 to as few as 0-3, depending on
commodity.
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Economic Benefits
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Soil and Water Management
Conservation Buffers

• Field Borders
• Buffer Zones
• Corridors
• Riparian Zones
• Filter Strips

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Conservation practices

• Riparian zones

NRCS Code 644
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Riparian zones/Corridors
NRCS Code 644
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Conservation practices

• Field Borders Filter Strips

Field Borders
NRCS Code 386
Filter Strips
NRCS Code 393
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BORDERS AND FILTER STRIPS
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Borders and Filter Strips

• Field with grassed field ditch

• Erosion area needing filter stip

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Soil and Water Management
Filter Strips

• Montana Study 80 sediment, 95 nitrates, 54-87
  bacteria
• Kentucky Study 90 sediment, 90 nitrates, up
  to 95 bacteria
• Arkansas Study 70 Ammonium N, 70 P
• Can reduce bacteria, nutrients, and pesticides

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Soil and Water Management
Example Rice Farmer

• Sediment Management in Surface Water with Test
  Kit
• 50 Reduction
• Filter Strips
• 50 Reduction
• Total Reduction 75

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Soil and Water Management
Example Row Crop Farmer

• Conservation Tillage 30 Cover
• 50 Reduction
• Filter Strips
• 50 Reduction
• Total Reduction 75

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DOES ORGANIC MATTERMATTER?
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Nutrient Management
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Non Point Pollution by Nutrients

• Excess introduction of nutrients (N and P) into
  surface water bodies can lead to oxygen depletion
  of water (hypoxia)
• Excess N in water has been linked to Pfiesteria
  outbreaks on East Coast
• Excess N in ground water can cause health
  problems for infants drinking water

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NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT EXAMPLE

• Producer applying 200/Acre 0-26-26
• Soil Test Results
• Every Sample V High P2O5
• Every Sample V Low K2O

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NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT EXAMPLE

• Recommendation P2O5 0/Acre
• Recommendation K2O 100/Acre
• 200/Acre 0-26-26 18.00/Acre
• 166 Acre 0-0-60 13.00/Acre
• Savings of 5.00/Acre, Increased Yield from K
• 52/Acre P2O5 NOT Being Applied

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Nutrient Management
NRCS Code 590

• Managing the amount, source, form, placement, and
  timing of application of plant nutrients needed
  for plant growth
• Nitrogen
• Phosphorus
• Potassium
• Other elements

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Law of the Minimum
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3 Zinc Sulfate In Furrow Tissue Zinc 12.4
ppm Average Yield 155 bu/ac
0 Zinc Sulfate In Furrow Tissue Zinc 7.7
ppm Average Yield 30 bu/ac
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Purpose of Nutrient Management

• Budget and supply nutrients for crop production
• Minimize pollution of surface groundwater
• Improve profit
• Improve the
• physical,
• chemical
• biological
• condition of
• soil

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Soil Test

• KEY to nutrient management
• DONT GUESS SOIL TEST

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Nutrient Management Plans
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Nutrient Management Plans

• Who Has To Do Them?
• Individuals receiving NRCS cost-share or
  technical assistance
• Operations listed as CAFO, or using animal wastes
• In the future, operations applying nutrients in
  watersheds listed as impaired due to excessive
  nutrients by DEQ

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Nutrient Management Plans

• What Does NMP Consist Of?
• Soil Test Results
• Farm maps
• Yield history to establish yield goals
• Records on nutrient application history
• Nutrient Balance Sheet
• Recommended application rates, source, timing,
  and method of application to minimize runoff to
  surface and ground waters

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Nutrient Management Plans
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Nutrient Management Plans
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Nutrient Management Plans
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Nutrient Management Plans

• What about soil sampling and testing?
• Soil sample a minimum of every 5 years
• Recommended to sample every 3 years
• If lab other than LSU is used, P must be analyzed
  with extractant used by LSU lab
• Nutrient rates shall be based on LCES
  recommendations
• Sample should be representative of the different
  conditions in the field, and all cores should be
  obtained at 0-6

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Nutrient Management Plans

• Phosphorus Index
• Where Nutrient Management Plans are required,
  Phosphorus will be the element limiting
  applications in some cases
• When LA was developing NMPs, choices for P
  limitations were Soil Test P or P Index
• We chose P Index to give LA producers more
  options and flexibility

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Nutrient Management Plans

• Phosphorus Index Takes Into Account
• Erosion Potential
• Runoff Potential
• Subsurface Drainage
• Filter Strips
• Watershed Priority
• Soil Test P
• P Application Rate
• P Application Method

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Nutrient Management Plans

• For help with your NMP call
• NRCS
• LSU AgCenter
• LDAF
• Certified crop advisors
• Private consultants

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Summary

• Nutrient Management makes sense economically and
  environmentally
• Plans will be thorough - will list all forms and
  management techniques of nutrients being applied
  and how to minimize movement to water - something
  farmers should be doing

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• Pesticide Management
• and Pesticides

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Pesticide Decision Making - Factors to Consider

• Pest infestation levels
• Field conditions and surrounding area
• Weather forecast

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Pesticide Decision Making - Factors to Consider

• The primary method of movement of pesticides into
  the environment is by being attached to sediment
• An exception is RICE PRODUCTION
• Flooded Environment In Water
• Discharge water ACCORDING TO LABEL DIRECTIONS!

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Pesticide Selection - Factors to Consider

• Characteristics of the pesticide
• Solubility
• Adsorption
• Volatility
• Degradation rate
• Characteristics of the soil
• Water table
• Type of soil
• Run-off potential

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Pesticide Selection - Factors to Consider

• Recommendations
• Registered use
• Environmental impact

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Pesticide Application - Factors to Consider

• Method of application
• Selection of equipment
• Maintenance of equipment
• Calibration of equipment
• Mixing/loading
• Record keeping

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The Billion-Dollar BlunderA Nebraska
Calibration Survey

• Two of every three pesticide applicators were
  making significant application errors the
  result of inaccurate calibration
• These mistakes causing both over and under
  application, were costing farmers from 2 to 15
  per acre in added chemical expense, potential
  crop damage, and increased environmental threats.

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Pesticide Application

• Mixing/loading

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Pesticide Application

• Off Target Movement Spray Drift

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Venturi (Air Induction) Nozzles
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Pesticide Application

• Off Target Movement Spray Drift

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Pesticide Application

• Drift Reduction Technologies

-Spray drift management is everybodys
business -Nozzles play an important role in
drift management -Spray droplet size determines
spray deposit and spray drift
-Questions? Does spray droplet size affect weed
control? Does spray volume affect weed
control? -Example Herbicide - Roundup Ultra
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Pesticide Application

• Drift Reduction Technologies and
• Weed Control Research

Nozzles DG TeeJet Turbo TeeJet AI
TeeJet Greenleaf TurboDrop Greenleaf
TurboDrop XL Greenleaf AirMix
vs. XR TeeJet
Spray Volumes 1.5 to 25 GPA
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Pesticide Application

• Drift Reduction Technology Research Results

• All drift reducing nozzles at 10 GPA were as
  effective in controlling weeds with Roundup Ultra
  as the XR TeeJet standard.
• Spray droplet size varied greatly among nozzles.
• Roundup efficacy was not sacrificed when spray
  volume was reduced to 3 GPA for Turbo TeeJet and
  Greenleaf AirMix nozzles, but was for the XR
  TeeJet.

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Pesticide Container Disposal and Spills

• Cleaning containers and equipment
• Disposal of rinsate
• Disposal of containers
• Report spills to the LDAF
• 1-225-925-3763

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Pesticide Storage

• Location
• Construction

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• General Farm BMPs

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Protect Water Quality By

• Assessing threats to water wells by conducting
  FarmASyst/
• HomeASyst
• Disposing of used oil, grease, batteries and
  tires properly

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Protect Water Quality By

• Properly installing fuel storage tanks

• Testing irrigation water

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Fuel Storage Tanks

• Any existing above-ground storage tank of 660
  gallons or more (1320 gallons if more than one)
  must have a containment wall surrounding the tank
  capable of holding 100 of the tanks capacity
  (or the largest tanks capacity if more than
  one).
• The tank and storage area should be located at
  least 40 feet from any building and 150 feet and
  downslope from surface water and water wells.
• Plans for the installation of all storage tanks
  that will contain more than 60 gallons of liquid
  must be submitted to the State Fire Marshal for
  approval.

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Underground storage tanks are defined as
containing more than 10 of their total volume
beneath the soil surface.
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THANK YOU