National Planning Procedures Handbook

Subpart B, Part 600.51
Draft Comprehensive Nutrient Management Planning Technical Guidance

600.51 Definition of a Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan (CNMP)

A CNMP is a conservation plan that is unique to animal feeding operations. It is a grouping of conservation practices and management activities which, when implemented as part of a conservation system, will help to ensure that both production and natural resource protection goals are achieved. A CNMP incorporates practices to utilize animal manure and organic by-products as a beneficial resource. A CNMP addresses natural resource concerns dealing with soil erosion, manure, and organic by-products and their potential impacts on water quality, which may derive from an AFO. A CNMP is developed to assist an AFO owner/operator in meeting all applicable local, tribal, State, and Federal water quality goals or regulations. For nutrient impaired stream segments or water bodies, additional management activities or conservation practices may be required to meet local, tribal, State, or Federal water quality goals or regulations.

CNMP must meet NRCS technical standards. For those elements included by Owner and/or operator in a CNMP for which NRCS currently does not maintain technical standards (i.e., feed management, vector control, air quality, etc.), producers should meet criteria established by Land Grant Universities, industry, or other technically qualified entities. Within each state, the NRCS State Conservationist has the authority to approve non-NRCS criteria established for use in the planning and implementation of CNMP elements.

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