By Blake Jackson
Cornell University's Nutrient Management Spear Program (NMSP) is offering a valuable tool for dairy farmers in New York: the whole-farm nutrient mass balance (NMB). This program helps farmers evaluate their nutrient use and find the "sweet spot" where milk production is high and environmental impact is low.
The NMSP team uses a software tool to assess three key nutrients: nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). These are essential for healthy crops that feed cows but using them efficiently is crucial.
"Over 20% of New York's milk is now assessed for its nutrient footprint," says Professor Quirine Ketterings, who leads the NMSP program. This highlights the growing focus on sustainable farming practices.
The NMB considers all the nutrients entering and leaving a farm in a year. "Imports" include purchased feed, fertilizer, and animals, while "exports" are milk, sold animals, and manure.
Farmers can participate by providing data on their farm's operations, from fertilizer use to milk production. This information allows the NMSP team to create a report showing how close the farm is to the "Optimal Operational Zone" – achieving high milk production with minimal environmental impact.
While initial data collection might require effort, most farmers find the program valuable. "They appreciate seeing areas for improvement and learn the importance of good record-keeping," says Olivia Godber, NMSP Research Associate.
The program provides an "opportunity table" suggesting potential adjustments based on the farm's specific situation. It doesn't criticize current practices but identifies areas where efficiency could be gained, potentially saving money on feed and fertilizer.
Farmers also receive trend data to track progress over time. "This allows them to demonstrate good practices and potentially reduce manure management costs," explains Ketterings.
Overall, the NMB program helps dairy farmers in New York make data-driven decisions to optimize production efficiency while minimizing environmental impact. Interested farmers can find more information and contact details on the NMSP website.
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Categories: New York, Education