Fall is almost here. That means harvest is coming and manure application season is around the corner. Late September marks six months since the online manure management plan (eMMP) application rolled out. In the first four months, producers submitted about 30 percent of annual MMP updates using the new system.
“That’s greatly exceeded our expectations,” says Ted Petersen, project coordinator and supervisor of the south-central Iowa field office.
The eMMP’s many benefits help make the application popular. It’s secure, automated and fast. Farmers can file from their homes or offices or while wintering in Florida. They no longer have to drive to the county courthouse to get signatures. Instead, the county receives notice electronically. They can pay fees online, too. Those who sign up will receive automatic reminders when their plan(s) are due.
Petersen also credits the input of many people – producers, consultants, counties, DNR staff – with the success of the application. “We asked those who prepare, receive and process these forms to tell us how to make the application work for them,” he says. “That preplanning paid off.
Find out more about how the new eMMP can help you save time and money.