Management Nutrients in Adair County 

In Kentucky, Nutrient Management Plans are required by law for many farmers.  It is also an essential step in protecting our water resources that sustain life for humans and wildlife. Furthermore, proper nutrient management plans can lead to the reduction of fertilizer use, saving farmers an abundant amount of expenses.

In 2019, the Adair County Cooperative Extension Service began an initiative to increase the number of farmers who have Nutrient Management Plans.   Supporting agencies in this project included the Adair County Soil Conservation District/NRCS and Tammy Barnes with the Department of Food and Animal Sciences at the UK College of Agriculture, Food, and Environment.

Since 2019, a total of nine Adair County farmers have participated in developing a KY Nutrient Management Plans.  Farmers have each saved a minimum of $17 per acre on annual fertilizer expenses from accounting for the nutrients contained in the manure produced on their farm alone.  Further savings were made through the identification of fields that no longer need fertilizer applied due to build-up of phosphorus and potassium from previous manure applications.

Nutrient management planning is just one example of how programs from the UK Cooperative Extension Service can improve the profitability of Kentucky farmers while protecting our water resources.