Good Feed Management Pays

In times of narrow margins it becomes increasingly important that producers focus on increasing feed efficiency to save money on feed costs. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has implemented a new program that will provide EQIP (Environmental Quality Incentive Program) money to producers to help them improve feed management. When cows utilize nutrients more efficiently for milk production they excrete less manure, and specifically, less nitrogen and phosphorus.

The Feed Management Program was adopted by NRCS in 2003 with two main purposes; 1) improve net farm income by feeding nutrients more efficiently and 2) reduce the excretion of nitrogen, phosphorus, and other nutrients by minimizing over-feeding of nutrients. The Mid-Atlantic region has been at the forefront of implementing this program, which will help Pennsylvania reach its goal of reducing nitrogen excretion to the Chesapeake Bay by 37 million pounds per year and phosphorus by 1.3 million pounds per year by 2010.

There are five basic steps to getting started with a Feed Management Plan.

1. Determine the purpose of the plan, which is done by the producer and a Technical Service Provider (TSP).

2. The TSP and producer determine if a Feed Management Plan is the best way to address the resource concern.

3. The TSP, producer, and nutritionist (certified to write plans) do an economic evaluation to determine the cost of making feed or manure hauling changes.

4. Nutritionist and producer develop the Feed Management Plan.

5. Nutritionist and producer implement and monitor the plan.

This is an exciting new program that can likely increase profitability through improved income over feed costs, better nutrient efficiency, and reduced nutrient excretion. Specific rules for receiving EQIP funding are different in each state so contact your state NRCS representative for information Questions about the program should be directed to Jana Malot, State Grassland Specialist with NRCS or Virginia Ishler, Nutrient Management Specialist with Penn State University.