Introduction

This fact sheet has been developed to support the implementation of the Natural Resources Conservation Service Feed Management 592 Practice Standard. The Feed Management 592 Practice Standard was adopted by NRCS in 2003 as another tool to assist with addressing resource concerns on livestock and poultry operations. Feed management can assist with reducing the import of nutrients to the farm and reduce the excretion of nutrients in manure.

The Natural Resources Conservation Service has adopted a practice standard called Feed Management (592) and is defined as “managing the quantity of available nutrients fed to livestock and poultry for their intended purpose”. The national version of the practice standard can be found in a companion fact sheet entitled An Introduction to Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Feed Management Practice Standard 592. Please check in your own state for a state-specific version of the standard.

The national Feed Management Education team has developed a systematic 5-step development and implementation process for the Feed Management Practice Standard. A complete description of the 5-steps can be found in a companion fact sheet entitled Five Steps to the Development and Implementation of a Feed Management Plan.

The fourth step of this systematic process focuses on the development of the Feed Management Plan. Key participants at step four are the producer and their nutritionist. The key tools to be used at step four are the Feed Management Plan (FMP) Checklistand the Feed Management Plan Template. This fact sheet will concentrate on using the checklist. The next fact sheet in this series A National Template for Preparing a Dairy Feed Management Plan will discuss the template.

Please check this link first if you are interested in organic or specialty dairy production

Using the Feed Management Plan Checklist

The FMP checklist is designed to assist dairy operators and their nutrient management advisor to determine feeding management factors that affect nutrient management. The checklist is meant to be used as an on-farm assessment tool. The factors contained in this assessment can be used as a guide to document and identify feeding management practices that will impact whole farm nutrient management.

The FMP checklist is designed to assist dairy operators and their nutrient management advisor to determine feeding management factors that affect nutrient management. The checklist is meant to be used as an on-farm assessment tool. The factors contained in this assessment can be used as a guide to document and identify feeding management practices that will impact whole farm nutrient management.

The FMP checklist is designed to systematically gather information that can be used to develop the feed management plan. The organization of the checklist is divided into six management categories of:

• targeting nutrient requirements

• ration balancing

• ration management practices

• production aids/enhancers

• monitoring tools

• forage management practices

To use this checklist, each practice should be discussed with the operator: Are they already implementing the practice? If Yes, indicate so and skip to the next question. If No, discuss whether or not the practice could be implemented and consider the economic implications. In many cases the economic implications will be a “best professional” judgment by the consulting nutritionist or producer.

It is important to address the question “Will it be considered in the future?” as this can provide guidance for reviewing and updating the FMP in the future.

The ‘Benefit to the Environment’ column provides the possible impact the practice could have on whole farm nutrient management. It is meant to be informative and should not be answered for each farm.

By following this link you will find a blank copy of the Feed Management Plan Checklist (PDF file). Additionally, a Completed Feed Management Plan Checklist(PDF file)is available as an example.

The next step in the process is to write the Feed Management Plan. A fact sheet on developing the FMP is available at A National Template for Preparing a Dairy Feed Management Plan.