MONROE — Farmers that are interested in learning more about nutrient management and how they can use a plan on their farm are encouraged to attend farmer education classes this winter. The Green County Nutrient Management Farmer Education Program is designed so that the participant acquires soil samples in the fall, have classroom time in the winter learning the background of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium management, and complete a nutrient management plan by spring. Nutrient management plans are useful to all farmers, both with livestock and without. The NMP is a document that helps farmers balance their nutrient needs for crops, taking into consideration the amount of nutrients available in the soil, on the farm, legume credits and manure, and what the plants need in order to produce a viable crop. If a farmer has livestock, the manure spreader is weighed in order to treat the manure as fertilizer.

The class is free to Green County farmers but class size is limited to 12. Farmers do not need to be computer savvy in order to complete the NMP. Contact Tonya Gratz with the Green County Land and Water Conservation Department at 608-325-4195, extension 121, or email Tonya.Gratz@nacdnet.net.