An introductory workshop on the RUSLE2 and the Iowa Phosphorus Index will be held June 7 from 8:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Polk County office of Iowa State University Extension and Outreach in Altoona.
ISU Extension, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS) and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR), offers the workshop to train livestock producers and service providers on how to use the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation 2 (RUSLE2) and the Iowa Phosphorus Index in nutrient management and manure management plans.
RUSLE2 software calculates soil loss for a given field, which is needed for figuring out the Iowa Phosphorus Index. The measurements determine the risk ratings for nutrient management plans and manure management plans in Iowa, where soil erosion and nutrient loss are the major contributors to water pollution.
The workshop will be taught by Don Corrington and Barb Stewart of the USDA-NRCS, Kapil Arora and Dan Andersen of ISU Extension and Jeremy Klatt of the Iowa DNR.
“Nutrient and manure management plans require updated RULSE2 and P-Index calculations every four years,” said Arora, an agriculture and biosystems engineering specialist with ISU Extension, “and this workshop will be a great refresher for those producers who develop their own plans or for consultants who are new to this planning process.”
The introductory-level workshop provides hands-on software orientation, including an introduction to the operating parameters, selection of input values and developing and saving management operations for RUSLE2.
In addition, real-field examples will be used in the workshop to determine risk calculations of the Iowa Phosphorus Index and how to incorporate these numbers into manure and nutrient management planning requirements. Manure management planning, soil sampling requirements, common errors and the DNR’s review process also will be discussed.
Cost of the workshop is $200 if registered by June 1 and $225 after that date. The workshop fee includes handout materials, RUSLE2 software, refreshments and lunch.
Because software will be provided, participants are required to bring an MS Windows-compatible laptop equipped with a USB drive and Microsoft Excel software, as well as the administrator password to the computer in order to install software.
The workshop is limited to 30 participants, and walk-in attendees are not allowed. Certified Crop Advisor Credits (5SW, 1 NM) are available for this workshop.
The workshop brochure for additional information, workshop schedule, and required materials is available through the Polk County extension office. Interested participants can register online or call ISU Registration Services at 515-294-1775.
For more information, contact Kapil Arora at 515-291-0174 or the ISU Extension and Outreach Polk County office at 515-957-5760.
