Nitrogen Fertilizer Management Plan

State's Nitrogen Fertilizer Management Plan being revised

In 2010, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) started the process to revise the state's twenty-year-old Nitrogen Fertilizer Management Plan to better align it with current water resource conditions and program resources. A Nitrogen Fertilizer Management Plan Advisory Committee was formed to assist the MDA in the revision process, a process that is expected to take 18 to 24 months. Statewide public hearings will be part of the revision process.

• Advisory committee members
• Advisory committee 2012 meeting schedule 
• Meeting agendas and minutes
  • Meeting Agenda 12/18/2012
  • Meeting Agenda 10/23/2012 | Meeting Notes 10/23/2012
  • Meeting Agenda 09/25/2012 | Meeting Notes 09/25/2012
  • Meeting Agenda 08/28/2012 | Meeting Notes 08/28/2012
  • Meeting Agenda 07/24/2012 | Meeting Notes 07/24/2012
  • Meeting Agenda 06/26/2012 | Meeting Notes 06/26/2012
  • Meeting Agenda 05/22/2012 | Meeting Notes 05/22/2012
  • Meeting Agenda 04/24/2012 | Meeting Notes 04/24/2012
  • Meeting Agenda 03/27/2012 | Meeting Notes 03/27/2012
  • Meeting Agenda 02/28/2012 | Meeting Notes 02/28/2012
  • Meeting Agenda 01/24/2012 | Meeting Notes 01/24/2012
  • Meeting Agenda 11/22/2011 | Meeting Notes 11/22/2011
  • Meeting Agenda 10/25/2011 | Meeting Notes 10/25/2011
  • Meeting Agenda 09/27/2011 | Meeting Notes 09/27/2011
  • Meeting Agenda 08/23/2011 | Meeting Notes 08/23/2011
  • Meeting Agenda 06/28/2011 | Meeting Notes 06/28/2011
  • Meeting Agenda 04/26/2011 | Meeting Notes 04/26/2011
  • Meeting Agenda 03/25/2011 | Meeting Notes 03/25/2011
• Supporting materials

The Nitrogen Fertilizer Management Plan is a strategy for protecting Minnesota's water resources from being harmed by nitrogen fertilizer use. Created in 1990, the plan has a three-phased approach:

1. Promotion of voluntary nitrogen fertilizer best management practices (BMPs);
2. Evaluation of BMP use and effectiveness; and,
3. Response when BMPs are not used, or are found to be ineffective.

Read the 1990 Nitrogen Fertilizer Management Plan.

Best management practices for nitrogen use

Voluntary Best Management Practices (BMPs) form the core of the 1990 Nitrogen Fertilizer Management Plan. Based on University of Minnesota field research, the BMPs are organized according to five regions of the state and for nitrogen use on coarse-textured soils and irrigated crops. The BMPs include such practices as accounting for all sources of nitrogen when setting rates, timing nitrogen applications for optimum use, and use of nitrification inhibitors.

The Nitrogen Fertilizer BMPs were developed in 1990 and updated in 2007-08. They are available as University of Minnesota Extension publications.

MDA Contact

Annie Felix
Nitrogen Fertilizer Management Plan Coordinator
651-201-6321, annie.felix@state.mn.us

Pesticide and Fertilizer Management Division