January 5, 2011

Volume 1, Issue 3


799 Job Sheet for Adaptive Management Created for Indiana

 

New Indiana Job Sheet - 799

Click the image to review the document.

In Indiana, the NRCS and State Dept of Agriculture (ISDA) worked together to create a 799 Job Sheet for Adaptive Management.

The “Monitoring and Evaluation” practice for the 799 practice code is relatively new to NRCS and is currently only available to growers located in the area covered by the NRCS Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watersheds Initiative (MRBI). In December, Indiana NRCS released three technical specifications relating to the 799:

Here are some highlights for each of the options:

  1. 799 Edge of Field Monitoring. This is the 'Cadillac' version of monitoring typically used by USGS/ARS with an automated sampler. 
  2. 799 Edge of Field Adaptive Management. These specifications were developed with the advice of the Indiana Water Monitoring Council. This practice involves collecting Water Quality data (using test strips for Nitrate, and a kit for Ortho-P) at tile outlets and/or surface runoff sites plus the receiving stream/ditch water at each location. The end use of the data will be to see how well existing conservation efforts are doing, and identify areas where there may be a need to refine the management or apply additional conservation practices. 
  3. 799 Nutrient Management Adaptive Management. These specifications were developed with ISDA based on the On-Farm Network concept. Producers analyze their nitrogen management using aerial imagery and stalk nitrate testing and work with a network of professionals and producers to further refine their N management. 

The third option, relates directly to the guided stalk nitrate testing program used in ten states with the On-Farm Network. The 799 Job Sheet for Adaptive Management is helpful in defining many of the specific requirements needed to implement this type of programming. It even includes a worksheet for the management information needed to complete this task.

While all three documents will be posted in the future as part of the Indiana NRCS FOTG, the 799 Nutrient Management Adaptive Management has been temporarily posted on the AgTech On-Farm Network website www.agtechonfarm.net.