IA DNR: Manure Management Plan Forms for Confinement Animal Feeding Operations

Manure management plans are not required for open feedlots, except when specifically required as part of a permit or an agreement with the DNR. Owners of a combination open feedlot and confinement operation must file an MMP for the confinement operation if the confinement facilities have capacity for more than 500 animal units.

Submittal Deadlines

Annual Submittals for Existing Sites: Senate File 2293 requires annual submittal of manure management plans (MMPs). If you have an MMP on file, you are required to submit an annual update of your MMP to the county board(s) of supervisors or designated representative (where the facility is located and to counties where manure will be spread) and the DNR with any changes from the current plan. The plans are due on a staggered deadline throughout the year and must be on DNR forms. The DNR will mail reminder letters to producers approximately 45 days before the date that the plan is due. State law requires producers to pay an annual compliance fee when the annual updates are submitted. All annual submittals (see form 542-4026) should be sent to the appropriate DNR field office (see form 542-8064). If you are expanding or modifying your operation, you will need to submit an original MMP.

Original MMP Submittals: New sites, existing sites (including poultry) that need a manure management plan (MMP) but have not previously submitted one, sites that have a change of ownership or sites that have an existing MMP that is not on DNR forms must submit an MMP on DNR forms. If this MMP is a first-time submittal for the site, a copy must be provided to the DNR, to the county board of supervisors or designated representative where the facility is located and to any counties where manure will be spread.

If a construction permit is not needed: State law also requires producers to pay a $250 filing fee for the first-time (original) submittal of an MMP and an indemnity fee of $0.10 per animal unit, if the facility was constructed or expanded after May 31, 1995 (see form 542-4021).

If applying for a construction permit: Applicants for a construction permit, including those for sites with a change in ownership, should use the forms in the Construction Permit Application (542-1428). Send the MMP to the DNR central office in Des Moines at Iowa DNR, Animal Feeding Operations, Wallace State Office Building, 502 E. 9th St., Des Moines, IA 50319. All other MMPs should be sent to the appropriate DNR field office, listed on the form.

Dry Manure Sales under 200 or 200A: Confinement feeding operations that sell manure under Chapter 200 or 200A (licensed under the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship) may submit an abbreviated MMP form 542-8069 to the DNR along with a copy of the IDALS license. An updated copy of the IDALS license must be submitted with annual updates. The MMP form and IDALS license must also be submitted to the board of supervisors (or designated representative) in the county where the facility is located and to counties where manure will be applied. See " Fees" for information on the annual compliance fee, the filing fee and the indemnity fee.

Annual Compliance and Other Fees

Annual compliance: An annual compliance fee of $0.15 per animal unit is required whenever the updated annual manure management plan (MMP) is submitted. The annual fee is required for those operations that already have an MMP and are not expanding or modifying a structure. Fees can be paid and submitted with the DNR form 542-8064.

Original MMP: A $250 filing fee is required when an original (first time) MMP is filed (whether the site must have a construction permit or not). Original MMPs are required for first time submittals and when a site is expanding, modifying, or changing ownership of a structure. Producers who submit an original MMP should pay only the $250 filing fee and the indemnity fee, using form 542-4021 if a permit is not required.

Operations that need to apply for a construction permit to build a new confinement, or expand or modify an existing facility are required to pay a $250 construction permit application fee in addition to the fees above. Fees can be submitted with form 542-1428.

Indemnity fees: A manure storage indemnity fee (one-time fee) must be paid when constructing or expanding an operation or when changing ownership of the operation. The fee is $0.10 per animal unit if a construction permit is not required. It is $0.10 per animal unit when changing ownership if not expanding or modifying the manner or volume of in which manure is stored. However, if applying for a construction permit, this fee varies according to the animal species and size of the operation. (see Form 542-1428).

County Verification
The producer or the applicant for a construction permit is required to send a manure management plan (MMP) to the board of supervisors in the county where a facility is located and in the counties where manure is applied. The board or a designated representative of the board must verify that the MMP has been received. For unpermitted and existing permitted sites, receipt of the MMP ends the county's obligation. Producers must have the county sign a verification form, DNR form 542-8046 and return it to the DNR.

For MMPs that are received with an application for a construction permit, the county is required to provide public notice that a permitted confinement feeding operation is proposed. The county may elect to hold a public hearing and to provide comments to the DNR. Producers must have the county sign the DNR verification form 542-1428 and return it to the DNR. In counties that have adopted the master matrix, the county has the obligation to review the construction permit application using the master matrix and make a recommendation to approve or disapprove the application to the DNR. For more information, see the Master Matrix and Construction Permits.

Phosphorus Index-based Plans
Senate File 2293 phases in phosphorus index-based manure management plans (MMPs) from now until August of 2008, with the longest implementation dates given to those who already have an MMP on file with the DNR. The schedule below indicates when producers will need to submit phosphorus index-based plans

Implementation Date for P Index-based plans
Original MMP Submitted	P Index-based MMP due
prior to April 1, 2002	First annual update after Aug. 25, 2008
between April 1, 2002 and Oct. 24, 2004	First annual update after Aug. 25, 2006
on or after Oct. 25, 2004	upon submittal

Click here for additional information on P index-based plans.

Land Application
Confinement feeding operations must continue to comply with other manure application requirements, including separation distances and applying manure without polluting state waters. For more information, see the section on manure control and manure applicator certification.

Requirements for MMP Forms
To be acceptable, the manure management plans (MMPs) must meet specific criteria outlined in Iowa law and DNR rules, including basing maximum applications on the nitrogen and phosphorus needs of the crops being grown, identifying the specific land areas on which manure will be applied, and specifying planned application methods and timing. The original plans are filed with the DNR, and a current plan must be maintained within a 30-mile radius of the operation and made available for review by DNR staff.

Producers filing plans with DNR should use one of the DNR forms listed below:

Updated MMP forms that include both phosphorus index and nitrogen-based plans, including Appendix A
The four-part older form
The short form for annual updates
MMP for Sales of Dry Manure

See the "Forms" section below for more information.

Recordkeeping
Producers are required by state law to keep records for five years of manure application and make them available to DNR for review. There are some record keeping requirements for commercial manure applicators as well. For more information, see land application of manure. The DNR provides a recordkeeping form which producers can use, form 542-8002.

Forms

Click here to Download Adobe Acrobat to read pdf files.
Manure Management Plan (MMP) Forms
- Read the Instructions and Introduction (*.pdf file) page for information about who must submit a MMP, who must submit annual updates, what parts of the form must be filled out and what parts are optional, new fee requirements, calculating animal units and where to submit your plan or plan update. Or, the MMP fact sheet (*.pdf file) also has additional information.
- There are several versions of the MMP forms available. The newest version has one part and was revised to include both nitrogen-based and phosphorus index-based plans. It's available as a Word document, an Excel file and a pdf. The older version is in four parts and was developed in Word 97. There is a short version of the form for annual updates and an abbreviated MMP form for sales of dry manure under Chapter 200 or 200A. Additional information and reference tables can be found in Appendix A.