A nutrient management plan balances nutrient application rates with crop nutrient requirements. Such planning is vital for protecting farm profitability and water quality. The Maryland Cooperative Extension Service offers a nutrient management program in cooperation with the Maryland Department of Agriculture to help farmers use their nutrient resources more efficiently. Contact your local CES office, and a nutrient management consultant will help you formulate a plan. Introduction Cattle, swine and poultry in Maryland produce more than 8 million tons of manure each year.
Manure provides numerous soil benefits.
For example by viewing manure as a valuable nutrient source rather than a disposal problem many producers have saved thousands of dollars each year in fertilizer costs. Manure may further increase crop yields by improving soil tilth and increasing water holding capacity. The value of manure - an example from the Eastern Shore of Maryland. By using manure as fertilizer, farmers cycle nutrients from the soil, through crops and animals, and back to the soil again. A farmer who fertilizes with manure can consider any investment in feed or forage an investment in future soil fertility.