Nutrient management is an important tool used to protect water quality and improve the financial viability of agriculture. The process of nutrient management utilizes proper nutrient distribution on cropland and farm management techniques in order to closely match crop needs and limit nutrients entering water resources. For more information on a nutrient management, including becoming a certified nutrient management planner and tools for current planners, click here.

Simply put, a Land Treatment Plan (LTP) is the base of a Nutrient Management Plan (NMP). It is an assessment of soil and water resources and current land-based management practices. A LTP provides detailed information on soil and water resources, recommendations for continued stewardship, and recommendations for compliance with State and Federal regulations. Land Treatment Planning is a available at no cost to you through a partnership between the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Vermont Conservation Districts, and the Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets. For more information on Land Treatment Planning or to contact the planner for your area, click here.

Nutrient management planning often necessitates the implementation of additional conservation practices that improve soil quality, increase crop production, reduce erosion, and reduce agricultural wastes discharges. These practices often include cover cropping, conservation crop rotation, and strip cropping. The goal of the FAP Program is to provide Vermont farms with state financial assistance for the implementation of these practices. For more information on the FAP program or to download an application, click here.