May 27, 2025
New planning tools are available for developing DEP Manure Management Plans: Excel and Word versions of Nutrient Balance Sheets (NBS) specifically for Manure Management Plans (MMP). These tools can be downloaded from the Penn State Nutrient Management website in the Manure Management Manual Program section.
April 29, 2025
The State Conservation Commission (SCC) has set up a new resource account for electronic submissions of Act 38 Nutrient Management Plans (NMP) and Act 49 Nutrient Balance Sheets (NBS).
February 7, 2025
A help center email for Nutrient Management Questions and Planning now available to planners seeking assistance when completing or reviewing the Nutrient Management Plan (NMP) and Nutrient Balance Sheet (NBS) planning tools.
February 5, 2025
The current HPAI outbreaks in Pennsylvania are a reminder of the importance of biosecurity. Every person servicing Pennsylvania agriculture should have a 'biosecurity kit' for farm visits. This article provides links to resources that can help agricultural service professionals disinfectant choices and biosecurity practices.
February 5, 2025
Due to the current heightened concern with Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) the State Conservation Commission (SCC) has developed the following guidance for performing Act 38 Nutrient Management On-Site Status Reviews, as an alternative, without going on the actual farm where the animals are housed. This alternative approach is only for use during periods of heightened biosecurity concern identified by The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA). The SCC, in consultation with PDA’s Bureau of Animal Health will determine the biosecurity risk and the timeframe this alternative approach may be offered.
December 3, 2024
The Pennsylvania State Conservation Commission (SCC or Commission) is pleased to announce the hiring of Melodie Tuckey as the new Conservation Program Specialist in the Harrisburg SCC office.
October 27, 2024
Developing a Nutrient Balance Sheet (NBS) for a pasture with grazing animals and imported manure can be easily completed once all the relevant information is gathered. Talk with the farmer to obtain the necessary information regarding the grazing animals, field information including fertilizers applied and any manure application setbacks that may be needed. The next step is to look up the relevant book values for animal weights and manure production and analyze values from technical resources. The final step is to complete an NBS accounting for the nutrients applied to the field from fertilizer, grazing animals, and imported manure.
September 27, 2024
The Nutrient Management Program has updated the Nutrient Management Plan (NMP) Spreadsheet to Version 10.0. Several updates were added to resolve identified issues and provide additional information.
September 27, 2024
The Nutrient Management Program has updated the Nutrient Balance Sheet (NBS) Spreadsheet to Version 8.0. Several updates were added to resolve identified issues and provide additional information.
June 5, 2024
The Penn State Nutrient Management Education Program (NMEP) is excited to announce that Dr. Kathleen Arrington has joined our team.
June 5, 2024
The State Conservation Commission (SCC or Commission) is pleased to announce the hiring of Michael Aucoin as the new Certification Programs Supervisor in the Harrisburg SCC office.
June 5, 2024
The State Conservation Commission (SCC or Commission) is pleased to announce the hiring of Michael Brubaker as the new Regional Coordinator Supervisor of the Nutrient Management Program in the Harrisburg SCC office.
June 5, 2024
Pennsylvania's PSNT has an updated formula that accounts for current agricultural practices, plus a new soil sampling protocol for fields with manure injection.
February 28, 2024
The State Conservation Commission (SCC or Commission) is pleased to announce the hiring of Brady Seeley as the new Director of the Nutrient and Odor Management Programs in the Harrisburg SCC office.
February 13, 2024
The State Conservation Commission (SCC or Commission) is pleased to announce the hiring of Rebecca Vigil as the new Conservation Program Specialist in the Harrisburg SCC office.
December 1, 2023
When planning for manure application to legumes "with manure", interpreting the nitrogen balance after manure, supplemental fertilizer N additions, and the final nutrient balance can be confusing. These issues have been clarified in the NMP 9.x and NBS 7.x releases by adding a report of the legume N removal balance after manure applications in the Crop & Manure Management printouts.
October 30, 2023
Version 12.0, Record of Change October 2023 of the Pennsylvania Act 38 Nutrient Management Program Technical Manual has been approved by the State Conservation Commission and has been made available on the Pennsylvania Nutrient Management Program website. The official release date is October 2023.
October 30, 2023
Version 6.0, Record of Change 2023 of the Pennsylvania Nutrient Management and Manure Management Program Administrative Manual has been approved by the State Conservation Commission and has been made available on the Pennsylvania Nutrient Management Program website. The official release date is October 2023.
October 30, 2023
The Pennsylvania Act 38 Nutrient Management Program Technical Manual has been developed in order to provide consistent program guidance, further refining the requirements in the regulations, to be utilized in the development, review, and implementation of Act 38 Nutrient Management Plans.
June 6, 2023
Please be advised that the following county conservation districts (1st map below) do not hold Act 38 Nutrient Management and Chapter 91 Manure Management Delegation.
June 1, 2023
This article explains the changes to the newly released tables in the Soil Fertility and Nutrient Management chapter of the Penn State 2023-2024 Agronomy Guide, and how those changes affect the nutrient management planning community when using the Nutrient Management Plan (NMP) or Nutrient Balance Sheet (NBS) planning tools.
May 12, 2023
Basic overview of a few government programs for Pennsylvania farmers. There is more funding than ever for ag conservation programs available to farmers right now to help protect natural resources, but the acronym alphabet soup can leave your head spinning. Read on for simplified descriptions of some popular programs in Pennsylvania. Follow the links in each section for more details.
February 24, 2023
The dangerously transmissible disease, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) is currently resurging at an alarming rate in Pennsylvania. All chicken, turkey, and duck farms in the state should be on heightened alert and exercise strict biosecurity protocols at this time, and through the coming months.
February 2, 2023
The purpose of this article is to clarify the requirements for accurately preparing Act 38 Nutrient Balance Sheets (NBS). Specifically, the requirements apply to NBS prepared as part of an Act 38 NMP and for any manure exports from an Act 38 operation including manure exported through a broker.
February 2, 2023
This article focuses on Manure Spreader calibration and why it is important when developing and implementing an Act 38 Nutrient Management Plan (NMP).
December 19, 2022
The purpose of this article is to communicate the signature requirements in Act 38 Nutrient Management Plans (NMPs) and NMP amendments (amendment) for Appendix 1 and for Appendix 8 when manure is exported from the Act 38 operation to a known landowner for agricultural land application scenarios.
December 19, 2022
The purpose of this article is to remind Manure Broker Level 1s (MB1) and Manure Broker Level 2s (MB2) about the proper procedures for developing and submitting Nutrient Balance Sheets (NBS) for manure brokered under Act 49. It is important to note that only MB2s can develop NBS but both MB1s and MB2s can submit NBS to the reviewing authority.
December 19, 2022
The purpose of this article is to remind conservation district staff about the proper procedures for recording and documenting Nutrient Balance Sheets (NBS) for brokered manure developed under Act 49.
December 19, 2022
In October 2021, Version 12 of The Pennsylvania Act 38 Nutrient Management Program Technical Manual was released. This version of the manual was updated to include new guidance regarding Act 38 NMP technical reviews and electronic submissions.
December 19, 2022
In accordance with the requirements of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 ("ADA"), the Pennsylvania State Conservation Commission (SCC) will not discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities on the basis of disability in its services, programs, or activities.
