Spreadsheet: 83e35d5f-e84f-4561-b6b8-52a1f0d1c81f
Sheet: Sheet1

Updated:  12/02/2002 | Unnamed: 1 | Unnamed: 2 | Unnamed: 3 | Unnamed: 4 | Unnamed: 5 | Unnamed: 6 | Unnamed: 7 | Unnamed: 8 | Unnamed: 9 | Unnamed: 10 | Unnamed: 11
Estimating A Whole Farm Nutrient Balance
Understanding the whole farm’s nutrient balance as well as the sources of nutrient inputs is critical to identifying a nutrient management strategy for reducing an imbalance and achieving an environmentally sustainable operation.  The purpose of this spreadsheet is to assist in the calculation of a whole farm nutrient balance.
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Authors
[NAME], Livestock Environmental Engineer and [NAME], undergraduate student, University of Nebraska.   Questions:  Call (402) 472-4051 or email to [EMAIL].
Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.  [NAME], Director of Cooperative Extension, University of Nebraska, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources.  University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension educational programs abide with the non-discrimination policies of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the United States Department of Agriculture.
Updated:  1/2/2001
Estimating A Whole Farm Nutrient Balance
Purpose
Nutrients arrive on the livestock farm (Inputs) in the form of feed, fertilizer, animals, or nitrogen fixed by legumes.  It is desirable that these nutrients leave the farm as marketed products (Managed Outputs) such as animals or crops.  Any imbalance between  Input and Managed Outputs will either 1) be added to soil reserves (adding to future environmental risks) or 2) lost directly to the environment.  Excess nitrogen will be lost to the air as ammonia gas or to surface and ground water as nitrate or ammonium.  Excess phosphorus is commonly stored in the soil contributing to soil phosphorus level in excess of agronomic requirements.  A high soil phosphorus level increases the potential for phosphorus movement to surface waters contributing to eutrophication issues (see [NAME]).  Understanding the whole farm’s nutrient balance as well as the sources of nutrient inputs is critical to identifying a nutrient management strategy for reducing an imbalance and achieving an environmentally sustainable operation.
This balance measures nutrients that cross the border of the farm.  It is not concerned with nutrients
recycled within the farm.  For example, home grown crops fed to animals raised on your farm will not
be considered as they do not cross the farm’s boundary.  Purchased feed products will be included
because this nutrient input crosses the farm’s boundary. By measuring only nutrients that enter and exit
the farm, the resulting balance defines the degree of concentration of nutrients within the borders of
the farm.
Authors
[NAME], Livestock Environmental Engineer and [NAME], undergraduate student, University of Nebraska.   Questions:  Call (402) 472-4051 or email to [EMAIL].
Additional Information
For additional information on whole farm nutrient balance and strategies for correcting an imbalance, the
[NAME] should refer to [NAME] on Whole Farm Nutrient Balance of the national "Livestock and Poultry
Environmental Stewardship" curriculum (available Fall 2001).  This resource is available from MWPS,
122 [NAME], Iowa State University, Ames, IA  50011-3080, phone # [PHONE]. [NAME] is
also available from   "http://www.mwpshq.org/curriculum_project/Lesson2.pdf".
Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.  [NAME], Director of Cooperative Extension, University of Nebraska, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources.  University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension educational programs abide with the non-discrimination policies of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the U. S. Department of Agriculture.