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Title: USE OF A DAIRY WHOLE FARM PHOSPHORUS BALANCE EDUCATION TOOL (DAIRY WFPBET) TO TEACH DAIRY PRODUCERS AND THEIR ADVISERS NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT CONCEPTS AT THE WHOLE FARM LEVEL

Author
item HARRISON, J - WASHINGTON STATE UNIV.
item NENNICH, T - WASHINGTON STATE UNIV
item Rotz, Clarence - Al

Submitted to: Journal of Dairy Science
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/15/2004
Publication Date: 7/26/2004
Citation: Harrison, J.H., Nennich, T.D., Rotz, C.A. 2004. Use of a dairy whole farm phosphorus balance education tool (dairy wfpbet) to teach dairy producers and their advisers nutrient management concepts at the whole farm level. Journal of Dairy Science. 87(Suppl. 1):248.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: All dairy farms in the state of Washington are now required by law to have a certified nutrient management plan. These plans are nitrogen based; however, in early 2003, EPA released new CAFO guidelines to require that nutrient management plans consider phosphorus (P) as well. The objective is to encourage producers to actively use their nutrient management plans as a part of their overall farm management. To better prepare producers for this change, a spreadsheet based education tool was developed in Excel' to demonstrate whole farm concepts related to nutrient balance with a focus on P. The goals in developing the tool were: 1) to use a simple interface viewed on a single page (worksheet), 2) to use input information readily available on most dairy farms, and 3) to use terminology and calculations consistent with a program developed by NRCS that is used in writing nutrient management plans for Washington dairy farms. The inputs required to determine a farm balance are herd milk production, number of milking cows, dry cows, and heifers, DMI of lactating cows, P content of lactating cow rations, fertilizer import, land in forage crops, yield and P content of forage crops, and estimated availability of P in manure. Output of the analysis includes the manure P available to crops and the whole farm balance of P. This educational tool is used to demonstrate the effects of management changes such as reduction in diet P, level of milk production, custom raising of heifers, forage yield and type, and the use of winter cover crops.