Requirements for Nutrient Management

Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) FY2006

Producer requirements for obtaining cost share for 590 Nutrient Management.

1. University of Tennessee Soil (UT) test required.  University of Tennessee soil test reports are the only one accepted for this payment. 
• Soil test according to UT publication UT PB1061
• Take the soil samples during the same season each year so a trend can be monitored. (Typically the ideal time to soil test is in the fall.)
• Samples should be collected on no more than 10 acres maximum size unit.  Areas of contrasting soils, problem spots or portions of fields where yields are significantly different should be sampled separately, provided the area can be fertilized separately. Examples:  bottomland and upland.
2. Maximum of 100 acres of allowed for incentive payment.
3. Apply lime as required by soil test (UT soil test recommendation). Lime must be applied the first year when required.  When lime is required applications may be split, with some application of lime occurring over a one, two or three year period.   All lime required must be completed by the end of the third year.
4. Apply fertilizer by soil test recommendations according to realistic yield goals.  Yield goals should be submitted on the soil sample form to the University with the Soil Sample.   
5. Develop a conservation plan with nutrient management as a component with NRCS assistance. In most cases there will be other conservation practices included as part of the conservation plan.  Other practices needed to bring the land unit into a minimum resource management system must be included in the conservation plan. The nutrient management incentive payment is used to move individuals toward or into Resource Management Systems (RMS).   
6. Apply lime
7. Recordkeeping is needed in all agricultural operations; soil sampling and fertilizer and lime applications are no exception.  Record keeping forms are available from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)  UT Agriculture Extension Service and others in the agriculture community.  Use of these records or another appropriate guidebook system will be required as an aid in recordkeeping and presented annually before receiving incentive payments.  
8. Incentive Payments for nutrient management will be made once each year after:
• soil tests are taken.
• lime/fertilizer applications completed.
• records completed and submitted.

Good managers will be able to reduce nutrient input costs, maintain or increase yields, and reduce nutrient runoff. 

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