Posted: 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.
The new MMP NBS planning tools are available are available online.
The MMP NBS Excel spreadsheet should be used only to develop Manure Management Plans. This new tool may be used for fields/crop groups that use Option 1 (phosphorus-removal) and Option 2 (nitrogen-based) planning, including planning winter manure applications without running the Phosphorus Index.
The MMP NBS Word planning tool may be downloaded as a standalone worksheet or as a worksheet within the MMP NBS User Guide. The User Guide includes instructions for completing the MMP NBS worksheet and tables from the Penn State Agronomy Guide needed for the calculations. The User Guide also includes several completed example MMP NBS worksheets, along with explanations of the calculations. Calculating the MMP NBS by hand is still an option for those not wanting to utilize the Excel spreadsheet tool, and the User Guide can be used for hand calculations.
Certified specialists may continue to use the Act 38/49 Nutrient Balance Sheets to develop Manure Management Plans. Fields that will be planned using Option 3 (Phosphorus Index) must use the Act 38/49 Nutrient Balance Sheets. Fields that will be planned using Options 1 or 2 may use either the Act 38/49 NBS spreadsheet or the MMP NBS spreadsheet. However, the Act 38/49 NBS spreadsheet will continue to require running the Phosphorus Index when planning winter manure applications.
Planners seeking assistance with using these new tools for developing Manure Management Plans may use the Help Center for nutrient management questions by emailing nutrientmanagement@psu.edu. This email is monitored by all Penn State Nutrient Management Education Program staff, including Don Orner, Kathleen Arrington, Charlie White, and Robb Meinen. More information about completing Manure DEP's Manure Management Plan Workbook or the Manure Management Short Form is available through the Pennsylvania Clean Water Academy course.
