Nutrient Management Planners - General Guidelines - Alabama CCA Program



The International CCA program and the Alabama CCA program have signed memorandums of agreements that will allow CCA's in Alabama to serve as third party vendors for writing nutrient management plans. Our agreement is that the State CCA program will keep an updated list of the CCA's in Alabama (and CCA's in other states which have reciprocating agreements with Alabama) who have training and expertise in writing nutrient management plans. The list which will be posted on our website http://www.ag.auburn.edu/accap/ will include names, addresses and telephone numbers of those who have requested that they be listed and can provide proof of expertise in nutrient management planning. To be listed as a "Nutrient Management Planner" the proof of expertise form must be completed and filed with the Alabama CCA Program.

It will be the responsibility of each individual to

  • ensure self competence in writing nutrient management plans and

  • be familiar with all rules and regulations associated with the specific nutrient management plan they are dealing with.

    • Currently, most nutrient management plans required by rules and regulations will be associated with the CAFO/AFO program and some cost share programs. Specific requirements for the nutrient management plans associated with the AFO/CAFO program are listed in an ADEM publication (Alabama Department of Environmental Management's Field Operation Division - Water Quality Program Chapter 335-6-7 which can be found on our website (http://www.ag.auburn.edu/accap). Guidelines outlined in this publication are supplemented with references to other publications and some of these can be found on NRCS websites. Guidelines for nutrient management plans established by NRCS and approved by EPA are also listed on the internet (http://www.nhq.nrcs.usda.gov/BCS/nutri/manage.html). There are several excellent listings at this website. The most critical one is "Nutrient Management Policy and Technical Guidelines.

    The Alabama CCA program will maintain a list of requirements for nutrient management plans on our website or an internet link to the requirements. This information will be listed as a service, but we can only guarantee that the latest info we have received is listed on the website.

    When writing a nutrient management plan in which there are no guidelines, it is strongly advised that you follow the NRCS guidelines which are approved by EPA. Regardless of guidelines used, good management practices (production as well as environmental) must be followed. If complaints are received they will be investigated and handled as stated in our MOU with NRCS (http://www.ag.auburn.edu/accap) even if the complaint is not associated with a nutrient management plan required by a law, rule or regulation. If you want to be listed through the Alabama CCA program as a qualified nutrient management planner, all of your nutrient management plans (including those not associated with the third party vendor system) must be professional quality.

    A listing of several websites that may be helpful are listed on our website (http://www.ag.auburn.edu/accap).

    Questions, suggestions, and concerns can be directed to Joe Touchton, Alabama CCA Program, PO Box 4, Auburn, AL 36831 or 334-844-3952 or touchjt@auburn.edu or to any of the board of directors of the Alabama CCA Program or the Alabama Crop Management Association.