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To schedule an exam with Metro Institute Inc., applicators must
To schedule an exam with Metro Institute Inc., applicators must
Introduce cover crops into the cropping system. Cover crops are grasses, legumes, or forbs planted for seasonal vegetative cover, established on an annual basis, between successive cash crops or companion-planted into a cash crop. Cover crops often get planted in fields following a short season crop or other times when a field would otherwise have little or no vegetative cover. Cover crops can be established between growing seasons to protect the soil from erosion and nutrient loss.
A primary purpose of cover crops is to capture left-over nutrients, like nitrate-nitrogen in the soil. Other purposes may include forage production, erosion reduction, suppression of weeds or pests, improvement of soil moisture use efficiency, or overall soil health improvement.
The amount of nitrate leaching reduction from cover crops varies depending on many factors, mainly weather and biomass accumulation of the cover crop in the fall. Despite their variability, research has shown that cover crops provide a nitrate reduction compared to no cover crops. Studies in Minnesota and Iowa have shown reductions in nitrate loads in drainage water between 11% and 76% with rye cover crop.
Producers who enroll in the Cover Crop Initiative may be eligible for compensation based on meeting the components in the technical resources mentioned above. Producers may be eligible for a payment of $40/acre up to 125 acres for a maximum of $5,000. Payment to producer will be made upon successful establishment of cover crop.
Introduce cover crops into the cropping system. Cover crops are grasses, legumes, or forbs planted for seasonal vegetative cover, established on an annual basis, between successive cash crops or companion-planted into a cash crop. Cover crops often get planted in fields following a short season crop or other times when a field would otherwise have little or no vegetative cover. Cover crops can be established between growing seasons to protect the soil from erosion and nutrient loss.
A primary purpose of cover crops is to capture left-over nutrients, like nitrate-nitrogen in the soil. Other purposes may include forage production, erosion reduction, suppression of weeds or pests, improvement of soil moisture use efficiency, or overall soil health improvement.
The amount of nitrate leaching reduction from cover crops varies depending on many factors, mainly weather and biomass accumulation of the cover crop in the fall. Despite their variability, research has shown that cover crops provide a nitrate reduction compared to no cover crops. Studies in Minnesota and Iowa have shown reductions in nitrate loads in drainage water between 11% and 76% with rye cover crop.
Producers who enroll in the Cover Crop Initiative may be eligible for compensation based on meeting the components in the technical resources mentioned above. Producers may be eligible for a payment of $40/acre up to 125 acres for a maximum of $5,000. Payment to producer will be made upon successful establishment of cover crop.
Terminate fall seeded cereal grain cover crops the following spring after the cover crop has reached twelve inches in height or after May 13. Delayed cover crop termination, especially with fall-seeded winter cereal grains, has been shown to increase nitrogen retention, thereby reducing nitrate-nitrogen leaching though the soil profile.
Producers who enroll in this initiative may be eligible for compensation based on meeting the requirements and technical guidelines stated above. Producers may be eligible for a payment of $25/acre up to 200 acres for a maximum of $5,000 when delaying cover crop termination as described above.
Terminate fall seeded cereal grain cover crops the following spring after the cover crop has reached twelve inches in height or after May 13. Delayed cover crop termination, especially with fall-seeded winter cereal grains, has been shown to increase nitrogen retention, thereby reducing nitrate-nitrogen leaching though the soil profile.
Producers who enroll in this initiative may be eligible for compensation based on meeting the requirements and technical guidelines stated above. Producers may be eligible for a payment of $25/acre up to 200 acres for a maximum of $5,000 when delaying cover crop termination as described above.
Test manure and/or calibrate manure spreader(s) to give proper nitrogen credit to manure on crop land. Testing of manure and manure spreader calibration are important management strategies to reduce variability and dial in actual N values when determining N needs for a crop.
Manure is an excellent source of nitrogen for plants but can be variable in its availability to plants. Nitrogen (N) is required in the largest quantities by non-legume crops. Applying manure to meet crop N needs will likely overapply phosphorus (P), and possibly potassium (K), for a crop such as corn. On the other hand, using manure to meet P needs of the crop will likely result in a lower application rate and will underapply N and possibly K. Commercial fertilizers will then be needed to balance out N and K needs. Consider the pros and cons of these two options when choosing a manure application rate. Application methods as well as inorganic N content of manure are key variables to manage when working with manure.
The MDA recognizes there is active and ongoing research related to manure management, and development of agronomic best management practices is ongoing. Farmers should adopt best management practices as they become available.
Producers who enroll in the Manure Management Initiative may be eligible for compensation based on meeting the components the requirements listed above. Producers may be eligible for payments to assist with manure sampling at a rate of $50/sample result. Producers may choose to work with a local SWCD technician, Extension Educator, or Feedlot Officer to calibrate manure spreader(s) or may choose to calibrate the spreader(s) on their own. Either way, the producer must provide the weights and calculations that were used to calibrate the manure spreader(s). Producers may be eligible for a payment of $200 per calibrated spreader.
Test manure and/or calibrate manure spreader(s) to give proper nitrogen credit to manure on crop land. Testing of manure and manure spreader calibration are important management strategies to reduce variability and dial in actual N values when determining N needs for a crop.
Manure is an excellent source of nitrogen for plants but can be variable in its availability to plants. Nitrogen (N) is required in the largest quantities by non-legume crops. Applying manure to meet crop N needs will likely overapply phosphorus (P), and possibly potassium (K), for a crop such as corn. On the other hand, using manure to meet P needs of the crop will likely result in a lower application rate and will underapply N and possibly K. Commercial fertilizers will then be needed to balance out N and K needs. Consider the pros and cons of these two options when choosing a manure application rate. Application methods as well as inorganic N content of manure are key variables to manage when working with manure.
The MDA recognizes there is active and ongoing research related to manure management, and development of agronomic best management practices is ongoing. Farmers should adopt best management practices as they become available.
Producers who enroll in the Manure Management Initiative may be eligible for compensation based on meeting the components the requirements listed above. Producers may be eligible for payments to assist with manure sampling at a rate of $50/sample result. Producers may choose to work with a local SWCD technician, Extension Educator, or Feedlot Officer to calibrate manure spreader(s) or may choose to calibrate the spreader(s) on their own. Either way, the producer must provide the weights and calculations that were used to calibrate the manure spreader(s). Producers may be eligible for a payment of $200 per calibrated spreader.
The fluctuation in fertilizer price affects the economic optimum N rate. To account for this change, the ratio of the price of N per pound to the value of a bushel of corn has been added to the N rate decision. The price/value ratio is used to determine the maximum return to N value (MRTN). The MRTN is the N rate that maximizes profit to the producer.
Effective strategies for reducing nitrate loss to groundwater are practices that reduce the amount of N used to produce a crop with maximum efficiency while reducing the amount of N that may be leached through the soil profile.
Nitrogen application rates will be dependent on the DWSMA BMP rate and University of Minnesota guidelines for corn. University of Minnesota Extension Fertilizer Guidelines for Agronomic Crops in Minnesota
Producers who enroll in the Nitrogen Reduction Initiative may be eligible for compensation based on meeting the components of the technical resources mentioned above. Producers may be eligible for a payment of $25/acre up to 200 acres for a maximum of $5,000. Payment to producer will be made upon receipt of nitrogen records that indicate the applicable reduction in N based on fertilizer inputs and crediting all other sources of N.
The fluctuation in fertilizer price affects the economic optimum N rate. To account for this change, the ratio of the price of N per pound to the value of a bushel of corn has been added to the N rate decision. The price/value ratio is used to determine the maximum return to N value (MRTN). The MRTN is the N rate that maximizes profit to the producer.
Effective strategies for reducing nitrate loss to groundwater are practices that reduce the amount of N used to produce a crop with maximum efficiency while reducing the amount of N that may be leached through the soil profile.
Nitrogen application rates will be dependent on the DWSMA BMP rate and University of Minnesota guidelines for corn. University of Minnesota Extension Fertilizer Guidelines for Agronomic Crops in Minnesota
Producers who enroll in the Nitrogen Reduction Initiative may be eligible for compensation based on meeting the components of the technical resources mentioned above. Producers may be eligible for a payment of $25/acre up to 200 acres for a maximum of $5,000. Payment to producer will be made upon receipt of nitrogen records that indicate the applicable reduction in N based on fertilizer inputs and crediting all other sources of N.