Balancing Productivity and Conservation: How Farmers Are Managing Nutrients for Clean Water

As agricultural practices have evolved, nutrient stewardship – the responsible management of fertilizers, manure and other soil amendments – has become essential for protecting our rivers, lakes and other waterways. One of the most pressing challenges is managing nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus, which can impact water quality when over applied or mismanaged. 

With agriculture being a significant user of nutrient resources, farmers are adopting best management practices (BMPs) to protect nutrient and water resources.

Understanding nutrient loss and its impact on water quality

When excess nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus are applied, they can move into nearby rivers, lakes and streams, resulting in water quality degradation. When combined with other sources, such as municipal runoff, the consequences can be significant, including:

• Eutrophication: Excessive nutrients in bodies of water trigger algal blooms, which deplete oxygen levels, creating dead zones where aquatic life cannot survive.

• Contaminated drinking water: High levels of nitrates in groundwater can pose health risks to humans and livestock, especially in rural areas that rely on well water.

• Loss of biodiversity: The loss of aquatic species due to poor water quality has far-reaching consequences for ecosystem health.

These issues are why farmers voluntarily plan for nutrient management practices that reduce nutrient runoff and protect water quality.

Best practices for nutrient stewardship

So, how are farmers and ranchers adjusting their practices to support good nutrient stewardship and protect water quality? Here are a few key methods:

1. Developing a Nutrient Management Plan
   A Nutrient Management Plan (NMP) is a fundamental tool for any farmer or rancher hoping to optimize nutrient use while minimizing environmental impact. The plan involves testing soil to determine nutrient deficiencies, calculating crop nutrient needs and applying the right amount of fertilizer at the right time, following the 4Rs of nutrient stewardship:

1. Right Source

2. Right Rate

3. Right Time

4. Right Place

2. Efficient Fertilizer Application
   How and when fertilizer is applied can significantly impact runoff. This runoff can be managed through:

1. Split applications: Instead of applying all fertilizer at once, split applications ensure that crops can absorb nutrients more effectively, reducing the risk of losing excess nutrients. 

2. Slow-release fertilizers: These fertilizers release nutrients gradually, matching the crop’s uptake needs and reducing the potential for nutrient loss.

3. Precision agriculture: GPS technology and sensors allow for site-specific nutrient management, where farmers can apply fertilizer only where needed

3. Cover Crops and Conservation Practices
   Cover crops prevent nutrient loss during the off-season, reducing nitrogen loss by an average of 48%.¹ These crops — such as rye, clover or vetch — are planted in between primary crops to:

1. Capture excess nutrients that would otherwise leach into the soil.

2. Prevent soil erosion, a significant cause of sediment and nutrient loss.

3. Improve soil health, enhancing its ability to retain nutrients.

4. In addition, buffer strips — vegetated areas planted along waterways — act as natural filters, absorbing excess nutrients before they reach the water. Research shows² that by converting 10% of a field to native perennial vegetation, farmers can reduce sediment movement off their field by 95%, as well as phosphorus and nitrogen lost through runoff by 90% and 85%, respectively. 

5. Manure Management
   Livestock operations produce large amounts of manure, which, if not properly managed, can contribute to nutrient pollution. Effective manure management practices include:

1. Proper storage: Manure should be stored in covered facilities to prevent runoff during rainstorms.

2. Incorporating manure into the soil: This practice reduces nutrient loss, ensuring nutrients are more readily available to crops.

3. Strategic application: Manure should be applied at the right time when the soil is most likely to absorb the nutrients.

6. Irrigation Management
   Efficient irrigation techniques such as drip irrigation or low-pressure sprinkler systems reduce the amount of water and nutrients that can run off into nearby waterways. Additionally, scheduling irrigation based on soil moisture levels can help avoid over-irrigation, which can lead to nutrient leaching.

The role of ag technology

Technology integration is becoming increasingly important in nutrient management. Precision agriculture tools, such as soil sensors, drones and variable rate technology, allow farmers to apply fertilizers accurately. These technologies help farmers monitor soil health, track nutrient levels and adjust applications in real time, ensuring nutrients are used efficiently and reducing environmental impacts. According to the Association of Equipment Manufacturers,³ precision tech has improved fertilizer placement efficiency by an estimated 7% and could further improve an additional 14% with broader adoption.

Empowering good nutrient stewardship through voluntary efforts

One of the most effective ways to encourage nutrient stewardship is through programs that provide financial and technical assistance to farmers. These programs help ease the financial burden of adopting new practices and offer guidance on the best strategies for nutrient management.

• Environmental Quality Incentives Program

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), provides cost-share assistance for farmers to implement conservation practices that improve soil health, water quality and nutrient management. Among other advantages, the program allows farmers to receive funding to develop NMPs, purchase precision equipment and implement practices such as cover crops or buffer strips.

In fiscal ​year 2020, EQIP included 33,701 contracts covering approximately 10.5 million acres across the United States. Funding for these contracts totaled $1.8 billion for financial assistance.⁴

• Conservation Stewardship Program

The Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) incentivizes farmers to adopt or maintain conservation practices that benefit both the environment and their operations. Through CSP, farmers can receive payment for managing their lands in ways that enhance water quality, reduce nutrient loss and improve soil health. By offering financial support and recognizing sustainable farming practices, the program empowers farmers to take proactive steps without compromising their productivity.

As of fiscal year 2023, more than 69 million acres⁵ of production farm and forestry land are enrolled in the Conservation Stewardship Program.

Strengthening collaboration

While individual actions are critical, collaboration among farmers, local agencies and environmental organizations is essential for large-scale improvements in water quality. Regional watershed management programs bring together farmers, local communities and conservationists to manage nutrient pollution on a broader scale.

Collaborative efforts have been crucial in addressing this challenge in regions such as the Chesapeake Bay and the Mississippi River Basin. Through these watershed-based initiatives, farmers work alongside local governments, environmental groups and research institutions to develop collective strategies for nutrient reduction. These efforts focus on:

• Establishing nutrient reduction goals to decrease the amount of nitrogen and phosphorus reaching water bodies.

• Implementing BMPs at the regional level, such as riparian buffers and wetland restoration.

• Providing financial incentives and educational resources to help farmers adopt practices that protect water quality.

Farmers and ranchers are supported by financial incentives and a network of peers and experts, ensuring their efforts align with broader environmental goals.

As more farmers adopt sustainable practices and work together, the agricultural community is leading the way in protecting our water resources while maintaining the productivity of our farmland.

Brought to you by America’s soybean farmers.

¹Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education. (n.d.). Cover crops. SARE. https://www.sare.org/resources/cover-crops/

²Science-based Trials of Rowcrops Integrated with Prairie Strips. (n.d.). What are prairie strips? Iowa State University. https://www.nrem.iastate.edu/research/STRIPS/content/what-are-prairie-strips

³Association of Equipment Manufacturers. (2021, February 23). Environmental benefits of precision agriculture. AEM. https://newsroom.aem.org/asset/977839/environmentalbenefitsofprecisionagriculture-2#.YBdQZR2Lc74.link

⁴American Farm Bureau Federation. (2023, October 18). Overview of Title II conservation programs in the Farm Bill. https://www.fb.org/market-intel/overview-of-title-ii-conservation-programs-in-the-farm-bill

⁵National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition. (2023, May 9). Stewarding success: Conservation Stewardship Program. NSAC. https://sustainableagriculture.net/blog/stewarding-success-conservation-stewardship-program/