{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/10.1-104.2.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/10.1-104.2.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/10.1-104.2.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/10.1-104.2.html"}],"law_id":64547,"edition_id":1,"section_id":64547,"structure_id":15449,"section_number":"10.1-104.2","catch_line":"Voluntary nutrient management training and certification program","history":"1994, c. 159; 2011, cc. 341, 353; 2012, c. 781; 2013, cc. 593, 658.","full_text":"A\n\nThe Department shall operate a voluntary nutrient management training and certification program to certify, in accordance with regulations adopted by the Virginia Soil and Water Conservation Board pursuant to subsection D, the competence of persons preparing nutrient management plans for the purpose of (i) assisting landowners and operators in the management of land application of fertilizers, municipal sewage sludges, animal manures, and other nutrient sources for agronomic benefits and for the protection of the Commonwealth’s ground and surface waters and (ii) assisting owners and operators of agricultural land and turf to achieve economic benefits from the effective management and application of nutrients.B\n\nThe Department shall develop a flexible, tiered, Voluntary Nutrient Management Plan Program to assist owners and operators of agricultural land and turf in (i) preparing nutrient management plans for their own property that meet the nutrient management specifications developed by the Department and (ii) achieving economic benefits for owners and operators as a result of effective nutrient management. The Department shall convene a stakeholder group composed of individuals representing agricultural and environmental organizations to assist in the development of this Program. Individuals representing the agricultural stakeholders shall include both farmers who currently operate farms and agribusiness representatives who serve the farming community. Individuals representing environmental stakeholders shall include at least two members and a staff member of the Virginia Delegation to the Chesapeake Bay Commission and one representative from the Rappahannock River Basin Commission. The Program shall: (a) allow owners and operators of agricultural lands and turf who are not required to have a certified nutrient management plan to prepare their own nutrient management plans; (b) include a tiered approach for lands of different sizes, agricultural production, and nutrient applications; (c) consider similar online programs in other states or sponsored by baccalaureate institutions of higher education; (d) address how the nutrient management plans can be verified and receive credit in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Model for properties in the Chesapeake Bay watershed; (e) begin testing the software for the Program by July 1, 2013, and begin full implementation by July 1, 2014; and (f) include any other issues related to developing a flexible, tiered, Voluntary Nutrient Management Plan Program for owners and operators of agricultural lands and turf.C\n\nAny personal or proprietary information collected pursuant to subsection B shall be exempt from the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700 et seq.), except that the Director may release information that has been transformed into a statistical or aggregate form that does not allow identification of the persons who supplied, or are the subject of, particular information. This subsection shall not preclude the application of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act in all other instances of federal or state regulatory actions.D\n\nThe Virginia Soil and Water Conservation Board shall adopt regulations:1\n\nSpecifying qualifications and standards for individuals to be deemed competent in nutrient management plan preparation, and providing for the issuance of documentation of certification to such individuals;2\n\nSpecifying conditions under which a certificate issued to an individual may be suspended or revoked;3\n\nProviding for criteria relating to the development of nutrient management plans for various agricultural and urban agronomic practices, including protocols for use by laboratories in determining soil fertility, animal manure nutrient content, or plant tissue nutrient uptake for the purpose of nutrient management;4\n\nEstablishing fees to be paid by individuals enrolling in the training and certification programs;5\n\nProviding for the performance of other duties and the exercise of other powers by the Director as may be necessary to provide for the training and certification of individuals preparing nutrient management plans; and6\n\nGiving due consideration to relevant existing agricultural certification programs.E\n\nThere is hereby established a special, nonreverting fund in the state treasury to be known as the Nutrient Management Training and Certification Fund. The fund shall consist of all fees collected by the Department pursuant to subsection D. No part of the fund, either principal or interest, shall revert to the general fund. The fund shall be administered by the Director, and shall be used solely for the payment of expenses of operating the nutrient management training and certification program.F\n\nFor the purposes of this section, the term “turf” shall have the same meaning as defined in § 3.2-3600.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":234897,"text":"The Department shall operate a voluntary nutrient management training and certification program to certify, in accordance with regulations adopted by the Virginia Soil and Water Conservation Board pursuant to subsection D, the competence of persons preparing nutrient management plans for the purpose of (i) assisting landowners and operators in the management of land application of fertilizers, municipal sewage sludges, animal manures, and other nutrient sources for agronomic benefits and for the protection of the Commonwealth’s ground and surface waters and (ii) assisting owners and operators of agricultural land and turf to achieve economic benefits from the effective management and application of nutrients.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":234898,"text":"The Department shall develop a flexible, tiered, Voluntary Nutrient Management Plan Program to assist owners and operators of agricultural land and turf in (i) preparing nutrient management plans for their own property that meet the nutrient management specifications developed by the Department and (ii) achieving economic benefits for owners and operators as a result of effective nutrient management. The Department shall convene a stakeholder group composed of individuals representing agricultural and environmental organizations to assist in the development of this Program. Individuals representing the agricultural stakeholders shall include both farmers who currently operate farms and agribusiness representatives who serve the farming community. Individuals representing environmental stakeholders shall include at least two members and a staff member of the Virginia Delegation to the Chesapeake Bay Commission and one representative from the Rappahannock River Basin Commission. The Program shall: (a) allow owners and operators of agricultural lands and turf who are not required to have a certified nutrient management plan to prepare their own nutrient management plans; (b) include a tiered approach for lands of different sizes, agricultural production, and nutrient applications; (c) consider similar online programs in other states or sponsored by baccalaureate institutions of higher education; (d) address how the nutrient management plans can be verified and receive credit in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Model for properties in the Chesapeake Bay watershed; (e) begin testing the software for the Program by July 1, 2013, and begin full implementation by July 1, 2014; and (f) include any other issues related to developing a flexible, tiered, Voluntary Nutrient Management Plan Program for owners and operators of agricultural lands and turf.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":234899,"text":"Any personal or proprietary information collected pursuant to subsection B shall be exempt from the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700 et seq.), except that the Director may release information that has been transformed into a statistical or aggregate form that does not allow identification of the persons who supplied, or are the subject of, particular information. This subsection shall not preclude the application of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act in all other instances of federal or state regulatory actions.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":234900,"text":"The Virginia Soil and Water Conservation Board shall adopt regulations:","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"D1"},"4":{"id":234901,"text":"Specifying qualifications and standards for individuals to be deemed competent in nutrient management plan preparation, and providing for the issuance of documentation of certification to such individuals;","type":"section","prefixes":["D","1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"D1","prefix_anchor":"D1","level":2,"prior_prefix":"D","next_prefix":"D2"},"5":{"id":234902,"text":"Specifying conditions under which a certificate issued to an individual may be suspended or revoked;","type":"section","prefixes":["D","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"D2","prefix_anchor":"D2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"D1","next_prefix":"D3"},"6":{"id":234903,"text":"Providing for criteria relating to the development of nutrient management plans for various agricultural and urban agronomic practices, including protocols for use by laboratories in determining soil fertility, animal manure nutrient content, or plant tissue nutrient uptake for the purpose of nutrient management;","type":"section","prefixes":["D","3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"D3","prefix_anchor":"D3","level":2,"prior_prefix":"D2","next_prefix":"D4"},"7":{"id":234904,"text":"Establishing fees to be paid by individuals enrolling in the training and certification programs;","type":"section","prefixes":["D","4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"D4","prefix_anchor":"D4","level":2,"prior_prefix":"D3","next_prefix":"D5"},"8":{"id":234905,"text":"Providing for the performance of other duties and the exercise of other powers by the Director as may be necessary to provide for the training and certification of individuals preparing nutrient management plans; and","type":"section","prefixes":["D","5"],"prefix":"5","entire_prefix":"D5","prefix_anchor":"D5","level":2,"prior_prefix":"D4","next_prefix":"D6"},"9":{"id":234906,"text":"Giving due consideration to relevant existing agricultural certification programs.","type":"section","prefixes":["D","6"],"prefix":"6","entire_prefix":"D6","prefix_anchor":"D6","level":2,"prior_prefix":"D5","next_prefix":"E"},"10":{"id":234907,"text":"There is hereby established a special, nonreverting fund in the state treasury to be known as the Nutrient Management Training and Certification Fund. The fund shall consist of all fees collected by the Department pursuant to subsection D. No part of the fund, either principal or interest, shall revert to the general fund. The fund shall be administered by the Director, and shall be used solely for the payment of expenses of operating the nutrient management training and certification program.","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D6","next_prefix":"F"},"11":{"id":234908,"text":"For the purposes of this section, the term “turf” shall have the same meaning as defined in § 3.2-3600.","type":"section","prefixes":["F"],"prefix":"F","entire_prefix":"F","prefix_anchor":"F","level":1,"prior_prefix":"E"}},"ancestry":[{"id":15449,"edition_id":1,"name":"Department of Conservation and Recreation","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13383,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:55:07","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:55:07","permalink":{"id":143319,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15449,"identifier":"1","token":"10.1\/I\/1\/1","url":"\/10.1\/I\/1\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13383,"edition_id":1,"name":"General Provisions","identifier":"1","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12893,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:45","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:45","permalink":{"id":143317,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13383,"identifier":"1","token":"10.1\/I\/1","url":"\/10.1\/I\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12893,"edition_id":1,"name":"Activities Administered by the Department of Conservation and Recreation","identifier":"I","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12740,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:59","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:59","permalink":{"id":143315,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12893,"identifier":"I","token":"10.1\/I","url":"\/10.1\/I\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12740,"edition_id":1,"name":"Conservation","identifier":"10.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","permalink":{"id":143313,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12740,"identifier":"10.1","token":"10.1","url":"\/10.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":80913,"structure_id":15449,"section_number":"10.1-100","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/10.1-100\/","token":"10.1\/I\/1\/1\/10.1-100","metadata":false},{"id":58849,"structure_id":15449,"section_number":"10.1-101","catch_line":"Department continued; appointment of Director","url":"\/10.1-101\/","token":"10.1\/I\/1\/1\/10.1-101","metadata":false},{"id":58860,"structure_id":15449,"section_number":"10.1-102","catch_line":"Powers and duties of Director","url":"\/10.1-102\/","token":"10.1\/I\/1\/1\/10.1-102","metadata":false},{"id":83293,"structure_id":15449,"section_number":"10.1-103","catch_line":"Organization of the Department","url":"\/10.1-103\/","token":"10.1\/I\/1\/1\/10.1-103","metadata":false},{"id":59850,"structure_id":15449,"section_number":"10.1-104","catch_line":"Powers of the Department","url":"\/10.1-104\/","token":"10.1\/I\/1\/1\/10.1-104","metadata":false},{"id":83147,"structure_id":15449,"section_number":"10.1-104.01","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/10.1-104.01\/","token":"10.1\/I\/1\/1\/10.1-104.01","metadata":false},{"id":82104,"structure_id":15449,"section_number":"10.1-104.02","catch_line":"Policies for consultation with federally recognized Tribal Nations in the Commonwealth","url":"\/10.1-104.02\/","token":"10.1\/I\/1\/1\/10.1-104.02","metadata":false},{"id":73665,"structure_id":15449,"section_number":"10.1-104.1","catch_line":"Department to assist in the nonpoint source pollution management program","url":"\/10.1-104.1\/","token":"10.1\/I\/1\/1\/10.1-104.1","metadata":false},{"id":64547,"structure_id":15449,"section_number":"10.1-104.2","catch_line":"Voluntary nutrient management training and certification program","url":"\/10.1-104.2\/","token":"10.1\/I\/1\/1\/10.1-104.2","metadata":false},{"id":63863,"structure_id":15449,"section_number":"10.1-104.2:1","catch_line":"Nitrogen application rates; regulations","url":"\/10.1-104.2_1\/","token":"10.1\/I\/1\/1\/10.1-104.2_1","metadata":false},{"id":86918,"structure_id":15449,"section_number":"10.1-104.3","catch_line":"Clean Water Farm Award Program","url":"\/10.1-104.3\/","token":"10.1\/I\/1\/1\/10.1-104.3","metadata":false},{"id":75706,"structure_id":15449,"section_number":"10.1-104.4","catch_line":"Nutrient management plans required for state lands; review of plans","url":"\/10.1-104.4\/","token":"10.1\/I\/1\/1\/10.1-104.4","metadata":false},{"id":80035,"structure_id":15449,"section_number":"10.1-104.5","catch_line":"Nutrient management plans required for golf courses; penalty","url":"\/10.1-104.5\/","token":"10.1\/I\/1\/1\/10.1-104.5","metadata":false},{"id":63499,"structure_id":15449,"section_number":"10.1-104.6","catch_line":"Supplemental environmental projects","url":"\/10.1-104.6\/","token":"10.1\/I\/1\/1\/10.1-104.6","metadata":false},{"id":61044,"structure_id":15449,"section_number":"10.1-104.6:1","catch_line":"ConserveVirginia program established","url":"\/10.1-104.6_1\/","token":"10.1\/I\/1\/1\/10.1-104.6_1","metadata":false},{"id":63217,"structure_id":15449,"section_number":"10.1-104.6:2","catch_line":"Invasive plant species","url":"\/10.1-104.6_2\/","token":"10.1\/I\/1\/1\/10.1-104.6_2","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":73665,"structure_id":15449,"section_number":"10.1-104.1","catch_line":"Department to assist in the nonpoint source pollution management program","url":"\/10.1-104.1\/","token":"10.1\/I\/1\/1\/10.1-104.1","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":63863,"structure_id":15449,"section_number":"10.1-104.2:1","catch_line":"Nitrogen application rates; regulations","url":"\/10.1-104.2_1\/","token":"10.1\/I\/1\/1\/10.1-104.2_1","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/10.1-104.2\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1994. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 159<\/a> of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. It has been modified 3 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 2011, chapters 341<\/a> and 353<\/a>; in 2012, chapter 781<\/a>; in 2013, chapters 593<\/a> and 658<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":75706,"section_number":"10.1-104.4","catch_line":"Nutrient management plans required for state lands; review of plans","order_by":null,"url":"\/10.1-104.4\/"},{"id":80035,"section_number":"10.1-104.5","catch_line":"Nutrient management plans required for golf courses; penalty","order_by":null,"url":"\/10.1-104.5\/"},{"id":57512,"section_number":"2.2-1105","catch_line":"Environmental laboratory certification program","order_by":null,"url":"\/2.2-1105\/"},{"id":55117,"section_number":"3.2-3602.1","catch_line":"Board authorized to adopt regulations for the application of regulated products to nonagricultural property; civil penalty","order_by":null,"url":"\/3.2-3602.1\/"},{"id":80901,"section_number":"58.1-337","catch_line":"Tax credit for purchase of conservation tillage and precision agriculture equipment","order_by":null,"url":"\/58.1-337\/"},{"id":62315,"section_number":"58.1-436","catch_line":"Tax credit for purchase of conservation tillage and precision agricultural application equipment","order_by":null,"url":"\/58.1-436\/"},{"id":58381,"section_number":"62.1-44.120","catch_line":"(For contingent effective date, see \u00a7 62.1-44.119:1) Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/62.1-44.120\/"},{"id":56006,"section_number":"62.1-44.15","catch_line":"Powers and duties; civil penalties","order_by":null,"url":"\/62.1-44.15\/"},{"id":58577,"section_number":"62.1-44.19:3","catch_line":"Prohibition on land application, marketing, and distribution of sewage sludge without permit; ordinances; notice requirement; fees","order_by":null,"url":"\/62.1-44.19_3\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":55569,"section_number":"2.2-3700","catch_line":"Short title; policy","order_by":null,"url":"\/2.2-3700\/"},{"id":59575,"section_number":"3.2-3600","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/3.2-3600\/"}],"permalink":{"id":143353,"object_type":"law","relational_id":64547,"identifier":"10.1-104.2","token":"10.1\/I\/1\/1\/10.1-104.2","url":"\/10.1-104.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/10.1-104.2\/","token":"10.1\/I\/1\/1\/10.1-104.2","dublin_core":{"Title":"Voluntary nutrient management training and certification program","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 10.1-104.2","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> The Department<\/span> shall operate a voluntary nutrient management training and certification program to certify, in accordance with regulations adopted by the Virginia Soil and Water Conservation Board pursuant to subsection D, the competence of persons preparing nutrient management plans for the purpose of (i) assisting landowners and operators in the management of land application of fertilizers, municipal sewage sludges, animal manures, and other nutrient sources for agronomic benefits and for the protection of the Commonwealth’s ground and surface waters and (ii) assisting owners and operators of agricultural land and turf to achieve economic benefits from the effective management and application of nutrients. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> The Department<\/span> shall develop a flexible, tiered, Voluntary Nutrient Management Plan Program to assist owners and operators of agricultural land and turf in (i) preparing nutrient management plans for their own property that meet the nutrient management specifications developed by the Department<\/span> and (ii) achieving economic benefits for owners and operators as a result of effective nutrient management. The Department<\/span> shall convene a stakeholder group composed of individuals representing agricultural and environmental organizations to assist in the development of this Program. Individuals representing the agricultural stakeholders shall include both farmers who currently operate farms and agribusiness representatives who serve the farming community. Individuals representing environmental stakeholders shall include at least two members and a staff member of the Virginia Delegation to the Chesapeake Bay Commission and one representative from the Rappahannock River Basin Commission. The Program shall: (a) allow owners and operators of agricultural lands and turf who are not required to have a certified nutrient management plan to prepare their own nutrient management plans; (b) include a tiered approach for lands of different sizes, agricultural production, and nutrient applications; (c) consider similar online programs in other states or sponsored by baccalaureate institutions of higher education; (d) address how the nutrient management plans can be verified and receive credit in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Model for properties in the Chesapeake Bay watershed; (e) begin testing the software for the Program by July 1, 2013, and begin full implementation by July 1, 2014; and (f) include any other issues<\/span> related to developing a flexible, tiered, Voluntary Nutrient Management Plan Program for owners and operators of agricultural lands and turf. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> Any personal or proprietary information collected pursuant to subsection B shall be exempt from the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700<\/a> et seq.), except that the Director<\/span> may release information that has been transformed into a statistical or aggregate form that does not allow identification of the persons who supplied, or are the subject of, particular information. This subsection shall not preclude the application of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act in all other instances of federal or state regulatory actions. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> The Virginia Soil and Water Conservation Board shall adopt regulations: <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> Specifying qualifications and standards for individuals to be deemed competent in nutrient management plan preparation, and providing for the issuance of documentation of certification to such individuals; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> Specifying conditions under which a certificate issued to an individual may be suspended or revoked; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> Providing for criteria relating to the development of nutrient management plans for various agricultural and urban agronomic practices, including protocols for use by laboratories in determining soil fertility, animal manure nutrient content, or plant tissue nutrient uptake for the purpose of nutrient management; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

4.<\/span> Establishing fees to be paid by individuals enrolling in the training and certification programs; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

5.<\/span> Providing for the performance of other duties and the exercise of other powers by the Director<\/span> as may be necessary to provide for the training and certification of individuals preparing nutrient management plans; and <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

6.<\/span> Giving due consideration to relevant existing agricultural certification programs. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

E.<\/span> There is hereby established a special, nonreverting fund in the state treasury to be known as the Nutrient Management Training and Certification Fund. The fund shall consist of all fees collected by the Department<\/span> pursuant to subsection D. No part of the fund, either principal or interest, shall revert to the general fund. The fund shall be administered by the Director<\/span>, and shall be used solely for the payment of expenses of operating the nutrient management training and certification program. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

F.<\/span> For the purposes of this section, the term “turf” shall have the same meaning as defined in § 3.2-3600<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nVOLUNTARY NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION PROGRAM (\u00a7 10.1-104.2)\n\nA. The Department shall operate a voluntary nutrient management training and\ncertification program to certify, in accordance with regulations adopted by the\nVirginia Soil and Water Conservation Board pursuant to subsection D, the\ncompetence of persons preparing nutrient management plans for the purpose of (i)\nassisting landowners and operators in the management of land application of\nfertilizers, municipal sewage sludges, animal manures, and other nutrient\nsources for agronomic benefits and for the protection of the\nCommonwealth’s ground and surface waters and (ii) assisting owners and\noperators of agricultural land and turf to achieve economic benefits from the\neffective management and application of nutrients.\n\nB. The Department shall develop a flexible, tiered, Voluntary Nutrient\nManagement Plan Program to assist owners and operators of agricultural land and\nturf in (i) preparing nutrient management plans for their own property that meet\nthe nutrient management specifications developed by the Department and (ii)\nachieving economic benefits for owners and operators as a result of effective\nnutrient management. The Department shall convene a stakeholder group composed\nof individuals representing agricultural and environmental organizations to\nassist in the development of this Program. Individuals representing the\nagricultural stakeholders shall include both farmers who currently operate farms\nand agribusiness representatives who serve the farming community. Individuals\nrepresenting environmental stakeholders shall include at least two members and a\nstaff member of the Virginia Delegation to the Chesapeake Bay Commission and one\nrepresentative from the Rappahannock River Basin Commission. The Program shall:\n(a) allow owners and operators of agricultural lands and turf who are not\nrequired to have a certified nutrient management plan to prepare their own\nnutrient management plans; (b) include a tiered approach for lands of different\nsizes, agricultural production, and nutrient applications; (c) consider similar\nonline programs in other states or sponsored by baccalaureate institutions of\nhigher education; (d) address how the nutrient management plans can be verified\nand receive credit in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Model for properties in the\nChesapeake Bay watershed; (e) begin testing the software for the Program by July\n1, 2013, and begin full implementation by July 1, 2014; and (f) include any\nother issues related to developing a flexible, tiered, Voluntary Nutrient\nManagement Plan Program for owners and operators of agricultural lands and turf.\n\nC. Any personal or proprietary information collected pursuant to subsection B\nshall be exempt from the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700 et\nseq.), except that the Director may release information that has been\ntransformed into a statistical or aggregate form that does not allow\nidentification of the persons who supplied, or are the subject of, particular\ninformation. This subsection shall not preclude the application of the Virginia\nFreedom of Information Act in all other instances of federal or state regulatory\nactions.\n\nD. The Virginia Soil and Water Conservation Board shall adopt regulations:\n\n 1. Specifying qualifications and standards for individuals to be deemed\n competent in nutrient management plan preparation, and providing for the\n issuance of documentation of certification to such individuals;\n\n 2. Specifying conditions under which a certificate issued to an individual may\n be suspended or revoked;\n\n 3. Providing for criteria relating to the development of nutrient management\n plans for various agricultural and urban agronomic practices, including\n protocols for use by laboratories in determining soil fertility, animal manure\n nutrient content, or plant tissue nutrient uptake for the purpose of nutrient\n management;\n\n 4. Establishing fees to be paid by individuals enrolling in the training and\n certification programs;\n\n 5. Providing for the performance of other duties and the exercise of other\n powers by the Director as may be necessary to provide for the training and\n certification of individuals preparing nutrient management plans; and\n\n 6. Giving due consideration to relevant existing agricultural certification\n programs.\n\nE. There is hereby established a special, nonreverting fund in the state\ntreasury to be known as the Nutrient Management Training and Certification Fund.\nThe fund shall consist of all fees collected by the Department pursuant to\nsubsection D. No part of the fund, either principal or interest, shall revert to\nthe general fund. The fund shall be administered by the Director, and shall be\nused solely for the payment of expenses of operating the nutrient management\ntraining and certification program.\n\nF. For the purposes of this section, the term “turf” shall have the\nsame meaning as defined in § 3.2-3600.\n\nHISTORY: 1994, c. 159; 2011, cc. 341, 353; 2012, c. 781; 2013, cc. 593, 658.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}