Natural Resources Conservation Service

USDA Agricultural Air Quality Task Force Website
 
Environmental Quality Incentives Program Website 
This website provides specific information (including links to state sign-up information) about the Environmental Quality Incentives Program. EQIP provides cost-share, and in some instances, incentive payments for producers who install and maintain qualifying conservation practices.

Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans
The Unified National AFO Strategy sets a national performance expectation for all AFOs to develop and implement site-specific Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans (CNMPs). The majority of these plans would be developed an implemented voluntarily by AFOs, while Concentrated AFOs (CAFOs) would be required to develop an implement CNMPs under the regulatory National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program.

USDA has released its Technical Guidance for CNMP Development. The CNMP Technical Guidance is intended for use by NRCS staff, private consultants, producers, and others that will assist in developing CNMPs. The document is not intended to be a sole reference for developing CNMPs, but rather as a tool in addition to other resources referenced in the Guidance.

A CNMP is a grouping of appropriate conservation practices and management activities to help ensure that AFOs can achieve both agricultural production goals and natural resource concerns. The main elements under consideration in CNMP development are:
  • Manure and wastewater handling and storage
  • Land treatment practices
  • Nutrient management
  • Record keeping
  • Feed management
  • Other waste utilization options (compost, etc.)