McKean County Conservation District - Nutrient Management

Contact:  Carol Riedmiller – 814-887-4002 - Click here to email

A nutrient management plan should be implemented for any farm in operation. Nutrient management seeks to balance nutrient application and crop removal of nutrients, while attempting to prevent excess nutrient runoff from entering groundwater and waterways.   Voluntary nutrient management plans can help all farmers manage nutrients, improve farm profits, protect the environment, and provide some protection from liability.

The District is dedicated to helping farmers and landowners in preserving our natural resources for future generations in McKean County. Below is a list of some of our Ag activities:

•  Information and education outreach
•  Nutrient Management Plan development and review
•  Complaint response and investigation
•  Best management practices planning and implementation
•  Compliance assistance

Nutrient and Odor Management (Act 38)-

The PA Nutrient and Odor Management Act Requires all concentrated animal operations (CAOs) or animal operations that have 2,000 pounds or 2.0 AEUs(AEU-1000 pounds of animal on a typical production day) per acre available for manure to develop and submit a nutrient management plan to the conservation district for review and approval.  Available acreage includes all rented and owned crop, hay and pasture land.

Remember, if your AEUs per acre are 2 or greater, your operation is a CAO and you are required to develop a nutrient management plan for your operation.
The District also administers programs to help implement a farms nutrient management plan.  To be eligible for any of the cost share programs a farm must have existed prior to October 1, 1997.  These programs include:

• Plan Development Incentives Program (PDIP):  75% cost share program for developing a nutrient management plan.  Rates are determined by the amount of acres planned.
• Agri-Link: loan program that provides low interest rate loans with a maximum of $75,000 for Best Management Practices required in a farm’s approved Nutrient Management Plan.  Loans are available from Farm Credit and other participating banks.
• Nutrient Management Plan Implementation Grant Program: grant program which provides 80% cost share up to $75,000 for Best Management Practices required in farm’s approved Nutrient Management Plan.    Farm must have existed prior to 10/1/97 and practices covered can not include part of an expansion for an existing operation.

Nutrient Management Links:

http://panutrientmgmt.cas.psu.edu/

http://agguide.agronomy.psu.edu/