Get Ready for RAPs: Nutrient Management Planning for Vegetable Farms. Becky Maden, UVM Extension VVGBA Annual Meeting January 25, 2016

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1 Get Ready for RAPs: Nutrient Management Planning for Vegetable Farms Becky Maden, UVM Extension VVGBA Annual Meeting January 25, 2016

2 UVM Extension Soil Fertility Project Proactive approach to RAPs VVGBA listserv survey in spring of 2015 Based on results, began to develop tools for outreach Working with 11 commercial vegetable farms Soil tested nearly 1000 acres Making recommendations and tracking inputs for 2016 Goal is to understand Are soil test recommendations followed? How to improve fertility management? Practical approaches for RAPs compliance

3 Why Soil Fertility Matters Why Manage Soil Fertility? Improved crop quality Increased yields Save money on unnecessary fertilizer Accurate year to year record keeping Better environmental stewardship Comply with water quality regulations (RAPs)

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8 Vermont Water Quality Bill passed in June 2015 by the VT legislature Draft RAPs released October 2015 Next draft of RAPs to be released soon Second comment period to follow Another Regulation?? Be sure to comment!

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10 Draft RAPs: Key Points for Veg Farms Must soil sample every 3 years Fertilization must be according to soil test recommendations Must keep records of all inputs No manure or compost on any fields >20 ppm soil P Cover crop seeding dates on flood plains Compost/ manure storage requirements

11 Number of Samples number of samples Soil Test Phosphorus Levels "commercial vegetable" soil tests 10/14-11/ Commercial Vegetable Soil Tests 10/14-11/ % of Samples Are Above 20 ppm < UVM soil test ppm UVM Soil Test ppm

12 Preparing for RAPs Test your soil. Plan your amendments for next season based on soil tests. Reduce or eliminate P applications where necessary. Create a simple record keeping system for soil fertility if you don t already have one (or ask us for a template). Continue good soil health practices. Cover cropping, reduced tillage, etc.

13 Which Soil Lab to Use? RAPs will require soils to be tested with Modified Morgan Extract UVM, UMAINE, UMASS labs UVM standard soil test is $14 Logan and Waypoint (A&L) use Melich III Different extraction method produces different results Difficult for UVM Ext to interpret and offer recommendations.

14 Soils Lab Comparison Lab-----> Waypoint Logan UVM ph OM% Sulfur 19 ppm 19 ppm 10 ppm Phosphorous 220 ppm 398 ppm 65.7 ppm Calcium 4859 ppm 2675 ppm ppm Magnesium 158 ppm 153 ppm 224 ppm Potassium 196 ppm 302 ppm 202 ppm Sodium 20 ppm 64 ppm 16 ppm

15 Which soil test to take? Standard Fertility Test--pH, organic matter, macro and micro nutrients, % Base Saturation, CEC. Best for overall crop planning and first year high tunnels. UVM, UMAINE, UMASS. PSNT (Pre Sidedress Nitrogen Test). Use during season to determine how much N to sidedress. Best for N intensive crops like potatoes or corn. UVM, UMAINE, UMASS. Tissue Sampling. Use to determine deficiencies on longer season crops. UMAINE, UMASS. SME (Saturated Media Extract). Tests for levels of available nutrients. Best for potting media or high tunnel soils. UMAINE, UMASS.

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17 If Your Soil is High in P

18 If Your Soil is High in P Under Draft RAPs: Limits management tools for organic growers No compost or manure additions No use of fertilizers with animal based manures No more Giroux or Kreher s or other poultry fertilizer Especially challenging on sandy soils how to build up organic matter without compost? Curbs ability of diversified farms to produce onfarm fertility with compost/ manure. Reduces use of local resources for soil amendments.

19 If Your Soil is High in P Cover crop! Legumes for on farm N High biomass cover crops for organic matter Reduce erosion potential by planting or maintaining buffers. Create a soil fertility plan with no P additions Select N fertilizers that are not manure based. Seed meals, feather meal.

20 Cover Crops

21 Cover Crops Best source of organic matter and nitrogen without adding any phosphorus Gain between lbs N/ acre from legume cover crop Depends on crop, density, and timing Very affordable source of N Difficult if land base is tight

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24 Questions?