Eight of the eleven states had involvement of the private sector in the production of farm NM plans. The private sector in this paper refers to crop consultants, industry agronomists, fertilizer dealers and others. Farmers are preparing their own NM plans in five of the Midwest states. NM specialists indicate a realization that public sector NM resources, as well as expertise, is limited. If NM plans are to be delivered on a larger scale, it is imperative that the private sector become more actively involved.
All states agree that the expertise and workforce lies with the private sector.
A minority of the Midwest states are hoping that farmers will be able to write their own nutrient management plans. Farmers writing their own plans can ensure meaningful plans with a higher degree of implementation. Unfortunately, these plans often fail to meet the bureaucratic detail mandated by NM programs. Midwest states responding to the survey. Plan review for most states involves only a determination of the NM plan's compliance with the applicable standards or guidelines.