InfoAg 2011, July 12-14, Springfield, IL

Presentation Spotlight

Adaptive Nutrient Management - Reviewing the NRCS Standards

The purpose of the 590 nutrient management standard is to budget and supply nutrients for plant production, to properly utilize organic amendments as plant nutrient sources, to minimize pollution from application of nutrients, and to maintain or improve the condition of soils. The 590 standard requires the use of soil and plant tissue tests to manage organic amendments and fertilizers. Incorporating the results of soil and plant tissue tests into a management plan is a complex process. The process can be simplified by use of adaptive management, which is a process that has been used by ecologists to improve the management of ecosystems. A key component of adaptive management is post-mortem evaluation of a management plan or parts of a plan to improve the plan. The 590 standard already requires evaluation using soil and plant tissue tests, but post-mortem evaluation to specifically improve a plan with time has not been an explicit component of the 590 standard. Development of a clearly defined adaptive management process for improving nutrient management would conserve resources and be beneficial to farmers. Including adaptive management concepts into the 590 nutrient management standard could improve the standard. The 590 nutrient management standard is currently under revision to embrace the adaptive nutrient management process.

Speakers

Mr. Norm Widman

National Agronomist, Ecological Sciences Division
NRCS

Welcome Message

Dr. Harold Reetz, Jr.
Director of External Support and FAR
International Plant Nutrition Institute

Dear InfoAg Participants:

We would like to thank you for helping make InfoAg 2009 a huge success. The over 650 participants shared in presentations on a wide range of topics on technology applications and data management and interpretation. As with previous InfoAg Conferences, the networking among participants was again a highlight of the experience. New relationships formed at InfoAg will lead to greater benefits and opportunities for those involved. Ideas exchanged in the hallways and the exhibit hall will form the basis for the new deliverables at the next conference. Those who took advantage of the Pre-Conference Tour on Monday picked up some additional first-hand knowledge and interactions.

Looking ahead, please consider participating in the 10th International Conference on Precision Agriculture (ICPA) in Denver, CO, July 18-21, 2010. ICPA has a stronger research focus, but still has a good component of applied technology through the A to Z sessions. Volunteer presentations and poster presentations offer a somewhat different format from InfoAg, and the representation of over 40 countries expands the networking opportunities. (See www.icpaonline.org for details and registration.)

And plan to come back to Springfield for InfoAg 2011, planned for July 2011. Please send us any comments or suggestions that will help us make these next two events even more beneficial to those who participate.

Sincerely yours,

Dr. Harold Reetz, Jr.
Director of External Support and FAR
International Plant Nutrition Institute