Journal of Nutrient Management

Farmers’ land use decisions can significantly impact water quality. For conservation professionals looking to address water quality issues, understanding producer perspectives is a prerequisite for building effective outreach and incentive programs. Just as we monitor environmental metrics like nitrate levels, evaluating social indicators such as attitudes, capacity to change, and adoption constraints is equally important. How do producers perceive their own ability to protect water quality?

This year, fields with flooded areas are fairly commonplace in certain parts of the country that have been plagued by heavy rains over the spring and summer. There are the obvious challenges and decisions that need to be made about planting and replanting damaged crops, but there are also some concerns about nutrient loss. Fields that have received a lot of rain could have stunted plants or uneven growth. Does this mean the plants are lacking nitrogen, sulfur, and just oxygen?

Manure handling starts with the animal, but the end user is an essential part of the equation. On livestock farms that have a limited land base, it often requires a working relationship with other landowners to make use of those valuable nutrients. For crop farmers Mark and Tyler Drewes of Drewes Farms in Custar, Ohio, manure from neighboring farms is one key to their success.

The information below has been supplied by marketers and other industry organizations. It has not been edited, verified or endorsed by the Journal of Nutrient Management. McLanahan Corporation is pleased to announce Lori Lulich has joined its agricultural team as regional sales manager, serving the Midwest and Western United States. Lori comes to McLanahan with more than 25 years of experience in agricultural industry sales and marketing positions.