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15 CAR § 4-101. Purpose
15 CAR § 4-101. Purpose.
(a) This part governs the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission’s Nutrient Management Planner Certification Program for individuals who prepare nutrient management plans.
(b) Planners prepare nutrient management plans to indicate how nutrients should be applied to fields and other land for crop production while protecting groundwater and surface water from excessive nutrient enrichment.
(c) Plans contain operating procedures based on:
(1) Expected crop type;
(2) Existing nutrient levels in the soil;
(3) Organic residuals;
(4) Optimum timing and placement of nutrients;
(5) Environmental resource protection; and
(6) Agronomic practices such as:
(A) Liming;
(B) Tillage; and
(C) Crop rotation.
(d)(1) The commission shall:
(A) Certify the competence of individuals to prepare these plans; and
(B) Determine information to be contained in nutrient management plans.
(2) The training provided by the commission or its delegate shall at a minimum meet the United States Natural Resources Conservation Service conservation practice standards for Arkansas.
(3) To maintain certification, certified nutrient planners must develop plans in accord with certified nutrient planner training.
(e) The commission shall issue certificates of competence to certified nutrient planners.