Virginia DCR Offering Agriculture Nutrient Management Program

According to a press release from the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, the Department will offer a two-part agriculture nutrient management training program in June and July. 

As the cost of soil nutrients continues to rise, nutrient management is an increasingly important issue for Virginia’s farmers. 

Nutrient management plans determine rates for applying manure, fertilizers, biosolids and other soil amendments to maximize crop yields and minimize nutrient loss. Nutrient loss negatively affects the producer’s bottom line and can contaminate ground and surface waters. Reducing nutrient loss is a win-win for farmers and Virginia’s water quality.

This training program is for those interested in developing agricultural nutrient management plans or seeking to become certified plan writers.

The first session, June 29-30, is a lecture series on soil science, soil fertility and crop production by Virginia Tech professors. The second session, July 12-14, will cover nutrient management plan writing using a case study.

Both sessions will be held in the Dairy Lecture Hall at the Frontier Culture Museum in Staunton. Each session runs 9 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. Early registration is $130 for each session. After June 20, the fee is $150 per session. 

More information about nutrient management training and certification is available at www.dcr.virginia.gov/soil-and-water/nmtrain.

Contact Stephanie Dawley at 804-382-3911 or Stephanie.Dawley@dcr.virginia.gov for details. 

Story By

Bonnie Ralston

Bonnie Ralston is the Assistant Station Coordinator at WVLS and a Highland County news reporter. She began volunteering at Allegheny Mountain Radio in the fall of 2005. In 2006 she became an AMR employee and worked in Bath County for eight years as the WCHG Station Coordinator and then as the news reporter there. She began working in radio while in college and has stayed connected to radio, in one way or another, for more than thirty years. She grew up in Staunton, Virginia, while spending a lot of time on her family’s farm in Deerfield, Virginia. She enjoys spending time outside, watching old TV shows and movies and tending to her chickens.

Current Weather

MARLINTON WEATHER
WARM SPRINGS WEATHER
MONTEREY WEATHER