Nutrient Management Credit

Following a NMP can be difficult for some farms. To offset the additional time and cost it takes to implement a NMP, the Nutrient Management Credit (NMC) Program was created. NM Credit is an incentive program that rewards farmer’s willingness to spread manure according to a Nutrient Management Plan.

The NM Credit Program encourages heightened stewardship of manure resources to improve water quality and provides the Watershed Agricultural Program a means to enhance implementation of Nutrient Management Plans (NMPs).

Farmers eligible to enroll in the NMC program keep record of their manure management and turn in manure spreading records annually, at which time a group of peers reviews and approves each farms credit award. NM Credit balances are used to reimburse farmers for Nutrient Management related expenses. Eligible expenses include items such as manure spreaders, barn cleaners, custom services, and lime.

In 2020, farmers earned $10.00 per acre and around $12 per animal unit. 142 farms participated in the NM Credit Program and earned roughly $550,000 in credits that they can utilize to reimburse nutrient management related expenses.