*Poultry litter (and any other animal manure) applications must be done in accordance with a Nutrient Management Plan prepared by a certified planner.
*A Nutrient Management Plan is not required for commercial fertilizer application.  See "Using Commercial Fertilizers" below.
*Nutrient Management Plans must be updated every 5 years.
*Records of nutrient application must be kept for 5 years.
*Soils must be collected every 5 years.
Contact the Conservation District to request a Free Nutrient Management Plan.

Title XXII is the regulation covering the proper utilization of manure and commercial fertilizers in Washington County. 

Please visit the Arkansas Natural Resources Conservation Commission website for more information http://www.anrc.arkansas.gov/Nutrient%20Management%20Program.htm

Anyone applying nutrients (manures or commercial fertilizers containing phosphorus) to 2.5 acres or more must be a Certified Nutrient Applicator.  You must receive training, pay a fee and obtain a license.

Private Applicator
* A person who applies nutrients to land that they own or control.
* Attend training class
* $30.00 certification fee

Commercial Applicator (FOR HIRE)
* A person who derives a substantial portion of income for applying nutrients to land that they do not own or control.
* Attend training class and pass test
* $85.00 in fees

You do not need to have a nutrient management plan to apply commercial fertilizers; however, if you intend to do so, you may only apply fertilizers according to the rates recorded on current (5 years or younger) soils tests results or at the Protective Rate established by the state.  The University of Arkansas, Cooperative Extension Service, Washington County (CES) can help you with soils testing and understanding the soil test results.  Contact CES at 479-444-1755.  Pleae note:  Due to our planning workload for customers who are required to have NMPs, conservation district employees do not routinely collect soils or write NMPs for persons using only commercial fertilizers.  If you use commercial fertilizers, click here for an application record  (please maintain this record for 5 years).  If you have questions about using commercial fertilizers, please contact us.

About fertilizing lawns: People tend to buy fertilizers by brand or because the manufacturer promises super results.  Generally speaking, these super fertilizers contain lots of phosphorus; however, many lawns need very little to no phosphorus at all.  But how do you know what fertilizer formula and how much of it to apply?  To answer these questions, collect and analyze soil tests for each area you intend to fertilize.    

The state of Arkansas has identified much of Northwest Arkansas as a high-hazard area where both commercially prepared and manure fertilizers pose a significant threat of runoff pollution.  As a result, most of Washington County, Arkansas (the yellow area in the image to the left) is now under special rules for the handling and placement of all phosphorus-containing fertilizers.  

There are three watersheds affected by the NSA rules: Illinois River, White River and Robert S. Kerr (Arkansas River) Reservoir.