Nutrient Management Plan

GGI is a certified Technical Service Provider (TSP) for the National Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) programs that are applied to farm and dairy operations. Our NRCS-trained staff can develop and assist in implementing Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans (CNMPs) and Nutrient Management Plans (NMPs) for your operation. GGI staff has completed CNMPs and NMPs for several dairy operations in New Mexico and Nevada.

GGI staff interviews a dairy manager for preparation of a CNMP.

NRCS offers a cost-sharing program for developing a CNMP for your dairy. NRCS requires that the CNMP must be prepared by a certified Technical Service Provider.

Application of green water mixed with well water with a flood irrigation system.

In addition to CNMPs and NMPs, GGI can offer assistance in the preparation and implementation of storm water pollution prevention plans (SWPPP) and in designing a CAFO recordkeeping notebook specific to your dairy operation.

Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan (CNMP)

CNMPs are conservation plans unique to livestock operations and are required by Natural Resource Conservation Plans endorsed by the NRCS. GGI staff works together with the dairy owner to prepare these plans that document agricultural practices and strategies adopted by the livestock operation to address natural resources concern related to soil erosion, crop selection, soil chemistry, manure management, green water application, irrigation practices, and disposal of organic by-products.

Over the past two years, more than a dozen CNMP were developed and implemented by GGI.

Application of green water mixed with well water with a pivot irrigation system.

Nutrient Management Plan (NMP)

Under the new CAFO Rule by the USEPA and the specific CAFO General Permit for each state, all CAFOs that have the potential to discharge into the surface waters of the United States have the option to apply for protection under this Permit from liabilities from a discharge. The NMP is required to be prepared and implemented in order to qualify under the Permit for the specific state where the CAFO is located.

GGI staff can work with the dairy owner to produce a NMP designed to the specific scale and type of facility. The development of both the CNMP and NMP begins with a comprehensive engineering and conservation planning resource assessments of the dairy operation. These assessments are used to identify potential problems such as unnecessary off-site runon into the dairy corral areas or determination of excessive nitrogen concentrations of green water used on land application areas. The NMP is prepared with conservation management and engineering options that reduce the potential of these problems to become a surface source of contaminants.

Structural improvements to divert surface runoff in corral areas.

CAFO Record Keeping Notebooks
Record keeping is very essential to a dairy operation. Even though you may have completed improvements or have addressed certain issues at your dairy, regulatory agencies require some type of documentation for these activities. The documentation becomes the supporting evidence for completion of projects or required inspections that regulatory agencies are obligated to oversee. All agencies strictly review your records to determine compliance with the permits.

GGI has developed a notebook with a format that maximizes the amount of information required by permits while minimizing the time required by the dairy manager to complete. The compliance forms for each notebook are designed for the individual dairy to meet the record requirements of the USEPA, NMED, and other agencies. Our compliance notebook is divided into sections for easy use by dairy employees and for easy review during audits by agency.

GGI supports these record keeping notebooks with improvements to forms due to changes in dairy operations or dairy structures. GGI recommends that the dairy owner retain these compliance notebooks for at least five years after their completion.

Example of index page for one of GGI Compliance Notebooks.

Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPP)
GGI has assisted with the preparations of stormwater pollution prevention polan (SWPPP) for facilities engaged in construction activities. GGI can prepare the proper permit and reporting documentation for activities such as lagoon or corral construction projects that are greater than one acre in area.