Continuing Education & Training

Certification, Licensing, Education

The Nutrient Management Program manages a training, certification, and licensing program for:

• Consultants who prepare nutrient management plans for farmers.
• Farmers who want to become certified to prepare their own nutrient management plans.

FY22 program activities

• Certified Nutrient Management Consultant Program: The program certified 18 new consultants to write nutrient management plans for farmers and renewed 73 certifications.
• University of Maryland Consultant Program: The program funded 20 University of Maryland Extension advisors in FY22. These advisors provide farmers with nutrient management plans free of charge.
• Farmer Training and Certification: The program trains farmers to become certified to write nutrient management plans for their own operations. Farmers are required to learn the basics of nutrient management planning, pass a specialized nutrient management exam, and work with a nutrient management specialist or Extension advisor to develop their plans. During the year, 21 farmers were trained to write nutrient management plans for their own operations and 90 certifications were renewed.
• Nutrient Applicator Voucher Training: Farmers who apply nutrients to 10 or more acres of cropland are required to attend an applicator training course once every 3 years. The program partners with University of Maryland Extension to conduct a series of statewide voucher training sessions. In FY22, 511 vouchers were issued or renewed.
• Continuing Education: Certified consultants are required to earn 12 hours of continuing education credits every 3 years. During the year, 118 continuing education events were attended by 2,031 individuals.