Dairy Nutrient Management Plans and Inspections

Dairy Nutrient Management Plans (DNMPs) are designed to satisfy the requirements of the Washington State Dairy Nutrient Management Act, (DNMA) established in RCW 90.64. The minimum requirements were established by the Conservation Commission in conjunction with technical advisors.

All newly licensed Grade A milk producers are required to have an approved Nutrient Management Plan (NMP) on site within six months of licensing, and a certified NMP on site within two years of licensing.

• Approved means the local conservation district has determined that the operation's plan to manage nutrients meets all the elements identified on a checklist established by the Washington Conservation Commission.
• Certified means the local conservation district has determined all plan elements are in place and implemented as described in the plan.  To be certified, both the dairy operator and an authorized representative of the local conservation district must sign the plan.

CAFOs:  Beginning March 3, 2017, all permitted CAFO's, dairy and non-dairy, are required to have a Manure Pollution Prevention Plan (MPPP) that meets the CAFO permit requirements established by Ecology.   The MPPP requirements for the "Combined" CAFO permit (both surface and ground water protection) and for the "State Only" CAFO permit (ground water protection) are found in Section S4. of the permit.

• CAFO NPDES and State Waste Discharge General Permit (Combined)
• CAFO State Waste Discharge General Permit (State Only)

Nutrient Management Plans (NMP) are developed to meet site-specific conditions of the dairy operation and to meet the requirements of Washington State's Dairy Nutrient Management Act. 

Each function of the dairy operation is evaluated  - production, collection, storage, transfer, treatment and use - is covered by the NMP.  The foundation of nutrient management is the agronomic use of the solid and liquid components of manure. 

The NMP provides the dairy manager with a suite of best management practices, that if followed, will help the dairy prevent pollution or degradation of waters of the state.

Objectives of the plan will include:

• Preventing discharge of contaminated waste water to streams, drainage ditches, or other surface waters from the facility
• Preventing migration of contaminants from the facility to the underlying aquifer
• Using facility nutrients to supply crop nutrient needs at rates and times tailored to reach realistic yield goals.
• Meeting the requirements of the Dairy Nutrient Management Act of 1998 (RCW 90.64), the Clean Water Act and compliance with Federal, State And local laws regarding water quality standards.

The term "waters of the State" is defined at RCW 90.48.020 which includes but is not limited to:

• Lakes, rivers, ponds, streams, inland waters, underground waters, salt waters
• All other surface and water courses within the jurisdiction of the state of Washington. 

• Do all standard practices meet the standards, specifications and methods described in the NRCS Field Office Technical Guide and the NRCS Agricultural Waste Management Field Handbook, and if alternative practices are utilized, have such practices been approved by the Washington Conservation Commission?
• Is a summary of the operation included (name, location, acres available for nutrient management, herd size, existing nutrient management facilities)?
• Does the dairy nutrient management plan developed after November 1, 1998, follow the planning format adopted by the Washington Conservation Commission?
• Have the following been inventoried and evaluated to identify potential pollution sources and to determine water quality protection needs: all fields used in the dairy operation; cattle confinement areas; barns; milking facilities; waste collection, handling and storage facilities; feed storage and mixing areas; riparian areas; irrigation systems; and drainage systems?
• If the plan has not been fully implemented, is there a schedule of planned practices listing the location, what will be done, how much will be done and when it will be completed?
• Are forage and crop fields identified and their acreage shown on an aerial photo, topographic map or a plan map drawn to scale?
• Is a month-by-month nutrient application schedule included? A nutrient balance sheet (including nutrient requirements of crops that will receive dairy wastes)?
• Are crop yield values or estimates supported in the plan, or in the dairy producer's case file?
• If manure must be utilized elsewhere, are off-site manure management agreements included in the plan?
• Is an operation plan included for the waste management system?
• Are the major factors influencing the quantity of manure and wastewater described (e.g., herd size and composition, climatic data, existing runoff controls, etc.)?
• Are existing manure and wastewater collection systems evaluated, and needed improvements described?
• Are storage facilities for solid and liquid manure described, are storage needs described, and are the calculations and worksheets used to determine storage needs included?
• Are transfer facilities and systems described?
• If the manure or wastewater is treated, is this described?
• Are soils described, including their physical capacity to accept nutrient applications?
• Is nutrient testing of soils and manure required, and testing procedures described?
• Is a recordkeeping system included that covers soil and manure tests, application of the solid and liquid components of the manure, cropping, and other significant factors and practices?
• Are the periods and conditions clearly described when dairy nutrients can be safely and agronomically applied?
• Are the periods and conditions clearly described when dairy nutrients should not be applied?