ANSC4120 Whole Farm Nutrient Management - Spring

This course provides students with an understanding of the concepts underlying whole farm nutrient management planning to improve profitability while protecting water and air quality. Students will learn and apply concepts in the development of a Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan (CNMP) that is required for a CAFO (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation) plan to meet environmental regulations. Students will develop components of a CNMP for a case study farm, using the Cornell University Nutrient Management Planning System (cuNMPS) and other tools. The course is open to juniors, seniors, and graduate students only. Students will learn the concepts and processes of developing the crop and manure nutrient management plan component of a CNMP and a whole farm nutrient balance during the first part of the course.  In the second half they will build upon knowledge gained in the first half of the semester by gaining knowledge and skills necessary to integrate crop production and herd feeding management for reducing nutrient imports on farms.

When and Where:

Lectures are TR 11:15-12.05 and (computer-based) laboratory sections are T 1:25 -4:25, with additional work on homework assignments and the case study outside of lab. All lecture and lab sections will be in Morrison Hall, room 164, unless otherwise noted in the syllabus or in class.

Who:

Quirine M. Ketterings, Professor
Nutrient Management Spear Program
Department of Animal Science
323 Morrison Hall
qmk2@cornell.edu / 607-255-3061

Mike van Amburgh, Professor
Department of Animal Science
272 Morrison Hall
meb1@cornell.edu / 607-254-4910

What Past Students Have Said:

• Everything was very well organized, and cooperation between different instructors was obvious. I wasn't sure if I should take the class, but I'm very glad that I did, it is one of the most hands-on, interactive, applicable classes I've taken at Cornell.
• I really enjoyed this class a lot. I did not have any background in this area. I deal with the cows all day while everyone else is dealing with crop work. I am currently managing a herd and the farm owner was really excited to hear I was taking this class.
• I enjoyed the course and did learn a lot, some things I only got the basics of, some I got all of the details. Gave me a very good understanding of this type of work and now I'm considering furthering my education in this field.
• Gives me more of an appreciation for nutrient managers.
• I really liked this class as a whole. Very informational. Probably one of the top classes that I took information away from. Very applicable to my farm once I graduate.
• I thought the project was the best part, because it was an actual real life situation where we got to apply what we learned.
• The project put together everything we had discussed in class and furthered my knowledge a lot. It made things very interesting.
• Very practical and hands-on, at least within the world of CAFO/Cropware/CNMP. Learned a lot.
• By doing this part of the plan, I realized just how involved the process is. As soon as we thought we were finished, we found something else that could be adjusted to make the plan better. I'm sure with more time we could have made more adjustments.
• Working in small groups is a very good part of this module, especially combinations of crop and animal science students. It gave a lot of opportunities to share our ideas and interact with each other.

See also: Albrecht, G.L., Q.M. Ketterings, K.J. Czymmek, M. van Amburgh, and D.G. Fox (2006). Whole Farm Nutrient Management: Capstone course on environmental management of dairy farms. J. Natural Resources and Life Science Education 35: 12-23.