Training Course Descriptions

Certification Categories

Most of these workshops are mandatory trainings required for nutrient management specialist certification. The mandatory workshops for each certification category are listed below:

• Commercial (Private Sector) - Nutrient Management Orientation, Managing Manure Nutrients Workshop, Plan Writing Workshop, ACA & Manure Storage Workshop, Stormwater & Soil Loss Workshop, P Index Workshop, and Certification Examination (with passing score)
• Public Review or Public Dual (Government Sector) - Nutrient Management Orientation, Managing Manure Nutrients Workshop, Plan Writing Workshop, Plan Review Workshop, ACA & Manure Storage Workshop, Stormwater & Soil Loss Workshop, P Index Workshop, and Certification Examination (with passing score)
• Individual (Farmers) - Individual Certification Training and Certification Examination (with passing score) or Nutrient Management Orientation, Managing Manure Nutrients Workshop, Plan Writing Workshop, ACA & Manure Storage Workshop, Stormwater & Soil Loss Workshop, P Index Workshop, and Certification Examination (with passing score)

Other non-mandatory trainings are offered to provide background understanding and expertise in topics integral to nutrient management.

Below is a brief description of the trainings and workshops regularly offered by Pennsylvania's Nutrient Management Certification and Education Program. Most of these training sessions have a maximum number of participants. Should registration numbers exceed the session limit, priority will be given to those individuals pursuing Act 38 certification.

Mandatory Course Descriptions

Nutrient Management Orientation

All commercial and public nutrient management specialists must fully complete this mandatory training course in order to obtain provisional certification. This training provides a comprehensive introduction and overview to the Act 38 regulatory requirements for nutrient management planning. This session also provides a review of key nutrient management planning resources.

Managing Manure Nutrients Workshop

All commercial and public nutrient management specialists must fully complete this mandatory training course in order to obtain provisional certification. This training provides a foundational understanding of basic soil fertility concepts, the nutrient cycles and behavior of nutrients, particularly nitrogen and phosphorus, soil sampling and analysis, crop nutrient recommendations, and how to manage nutrients for crop production and environmental protection. Understanding how to manage manure nutrients builds on this groundwork. This includes discussion on manure types and production calculations, manure variability, manure sampling, nutrient contents and availability factors, long term manure nutrient contributions and environmental impacts. Participation in this workshop is a prerequisite for the Plan Writing and Plan Review Workshops.

Plan Writing Workshop

All commercial and public nutrient management specialists must fully complete this mandatory training course in order to obtain provisional certification. This training prepares plan writers in developing nutrient management plans that meet the requirements of Act 38 and provide a beneficial tool to farmers to manage their manure and fertilizer nutrients. Participants will use information from a sample farm to develop a nutrient management plan. This includes identifying manure groups, calculating manure inventories, planning crop yields, nutrient recommendations, and allocating manure to crops to meet nutrient requirements. The workshop will also provide an introductory orientation to the Excel spreadsheets required for Act 38 nutrient management planning. To complete the sample plan, the workshop will integrate paper exercises with computer exercises to provide experience in using the NMP Spreadsheet and the NBS Spreadsheet both of which include the P Index Spreadsheet. Completion of the Managing Manure Nutrients Workshop is a prerequisite for this training. Participation in this workshop is a prerequisite for the Plan Review Workshop.

Plan Review Workshop

All public nutrient management specialists must fully complete this mandatory training course in order to obtain provisional certification. This training provides an overview of the administrative and technical aspects of the review of an Act 38 nutrient management plan. Both the process of plan review and the specific details of plan review are covered. Attendees will receive a copy of a sample plan to review prior to the workshop. A review of this plan must be completed and submitted prior to the training to receive credit for the course. Completion of the Managing Manure Nutrients and Plan Writing Workshops are a prerequisite for this training.

ACA & Manure Storage Workshop

All commercial and public nutrient management specialists must fully complete this mandatory training course in order to obtain provisional certification. This training prepares specialists to address the requirements of the manure management component of an Act 38 nutrient management plan. Participants will learn how to identify manure storages and animal concentration areas (ACAs), how to conduct an evaluation of the adequacy of manure management practices related to these areas to prevent water pollution, and how to identify BMPs to address identified inadequate manure management practices that must be included in an Act 38 nutrient management plan. These approaches are introduced in the classroom and practically applied with exercises using multiple on-farm situations.

Stormwater & Soil Loss Workshop

All commercial and public nutrient management specialists must fully complete this mandatory training course in order to obtain provisional certification. This training prepares nutrient management specialists to address the requirements of the Stormwater Control component and assess the accuracy of the P Index soil erosion component in an Act 38 nutrient management plan (NMP). The workshop provides classroom instruction and field exercises on the basic concepts and methods used to evaluate and manage stormwater runoff and predict soil erosion from cropland. This information is then used to identify existing Critical Runoff Problem Areas and select BMPs to address these areas, as required by Act 38. Additionally, this basic knowledge will help participants assess the validity of Conservation Plans or Agriculture Erosion and Sedimentation Control (Ag E&S) Plans, which are required to be in place prior to Act 38 NMP approval.

P Index Workshop

All commercial and public nutrient management specialists must fully complete this mandatory training course in order to obtain provisional certification. This training prepares specialists to address the requirements of the phosphorus index component of an Act 38 nutrient management plan. The workshop provides classroom instruction and field exercises on understanding the background and purpose of the Pennsylvania Phosphorus Index, learning how to use the Index to complete a field-by-field evaluation of phosphorus loss to water bodies, and how to incorporate the Index results into the nutrient management planning process for Act 38.

Certification Examination

Examinations for commercial, public review, public dual and individual nutrient management specialists are administered by the Department of Agriculture. A fee of $50.00 is required for the commercial and public examination. There is no fee for individual examination.

Non-Mandatory Course Descriptions

Introduction to Livestock Production Systems

This basic workshop is specifically designed to provide background training for commercial and public nutrient management specialists who may not have experience in one or more livestock production systems. The workshop provides an overview of the typical production systems in Pennsylvania for dairy, swine and poultry. A major focus of these discussions will be on types of housing and typical manure handling and storage. In addition, topics such as on-farm biosecurity practices and manure storage safety are also addressed.

Soil, Hydrology and Liquid Manure Workshop

This basic workshop for commercial and public nutrient management specialists provides an introduction to soil properties, soil quality and soil hydrology with a specific focus on how they affect liquid manure application with irrigation and injection equipment. Each topic will be addressed with both classroom and in-field sessions and irrigation and injection equipment are demonstrated.

Understanding Horse Farms

This five-session webinar series provides a basic understanding of equine operations for nutrient management specialists and conservation staff. The webinars review horse farm priorities and common management practices, providing increased confidence to work with these farm owners. They will also cover basic information on various topics relating to horse farm management and how they apply to horse farms, such as forage biology and grazing management, forage species selection, pasture evaluation, and more.

Ag 101 - Understanding PA Farm Operations

This ten-session webinar series was developed to enhance the work of conservation practitioners who are on the front lines supporting producers in choosing, planning, and implementing the best management practices that preserve soil, water, and air quality. AG 101 will familiarize viewers with the state's primary agricultural operations, operations management, the economics of farming, animal and crop species, environmental considerations, and the challenge that our producers face on a day-to-day basis.