Media inquiries: Please contact Dave Neudeck, dave.neudeck@dcr.virginia.gov, 804-786-5053.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: May 15, 2014
Contact: Julie Buchanan, Senior Public Relations and Marketing Specialist, 804-786-2292, julie.buchanan@dcr.virginia.gov
Nutrient management training to be offered in Wytheville
RICHMOND — A two-part nutrient management training school will be held in July at Wytheville Community College. The training is open to anyone interested in learning more about the writing of nutrient management plans or how to become a certified plan writer. The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation is conducting the training.
The first session, July 8-9, will cover soil science, fertility and crop production. The fee is $90 per person.
The second session, July 15-17, will cover nutrient management plan writing using a case-study farm. The fee for that session is $135 per person.
Both sessions will run 9 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. each day. The deadline to register for both is June 24.
Nutrient management plans are a guide to applying manure, fertilizers, biosolids and other soil amendments so that crop yields are maximized, and ground and surface waters are protected from nutrient pollution. Application rates are determined by a process using yield records (or soil productivity when yield records aren’t available).
The training is open to all and will give participants an understanding of the process required to develop a nutrient management plan. Exercises will be hands-on and based on real scenarios.
“Generally, it would appear this type of school may be of interest mainly to consultants, sales people or agency people working with nutrient management or crop production,” said David Kindig, DCR’s nutrient management certification and training coordinator. “However, many farmers and farm operators also participate in this training and choose to become certified planners themselves. The more informed they are about plan development, the more they can be part of the process.”
For more information about training and certification, go to www.dcr.virginia.gov/soil-and-water/nmtrain.
To register, contact Susan Jones at 804-443-6752 or susan.jones@dcr.virginia.gov.
For details about either training session, contact David Kindig at 804-371-8095 or david.kindig@dcr.virginia.gov.
-30-