Updated: 1/2/2001 05/26/2020

Estimating A Whole Farm Nutrient Balance

Purpose
Nutrients arrive on the livestock farm (Inputs) in the form of feed, fertilizer, animals, or nitrogen fixed by
legumes. It is desirable that these nutrients leave the farm as marketed products (Managed Outputs) such as
animals or crops. Any imbalance between Input and Managed Outputs will either 1) be added to soil
reserves (adding to future environmental risks) or 2) lost directly to the environment.

Excess nitrogen will be lost to the air as ammonia gas or to surface and ground water as nitrate or ammonium.
Excess phosphorus is commonly stored in the soil contributing to soil phosphorus level in excess of
agronomic requirements. A high soil phosphorus level increases the potential for phosphorus movement to
surface waters contributing to eutrophication issues (see Lesson 1).

Understanding the whole farm’s nutrient balance as well as the sources of nutrient inputs is critical to
identifying a nutrient management strategy for reducing an imbalance and achieving an environmentally
sustainable operation.

Inputs Managed
Feed Outputs

Animals Animals

Fertilizer Crops

Legumes Manure

Irrigation

Imbalance (losses to environment

or additions to soil storage)

This balance measures nutrients that cross the border of the farm. It is not concerned with nutrients
recycled within the farm. For example, home grown crops fed to animals raised on your farm will not
be considered as they do not cross the farm’s boundary. Purchased feed products will be included
because this nutrient input crosses the farm’s boundary. By measuring only nutrients that enter and exit
the farm, the resulting balance defines the degree of concentration of nutrients within the borders of
the farm.

Authors
Rick Koelsch, Livestock Environmental Engineer and Aaron Franzen, undergraduate student, University of
Nebraska. Questions: Call (402) 472-4051 or email to rkoelsch1@unl.edu.

Additional Information
For additional information on whole farm nutrient balance and strategies for correcting an imbalance, the
reader should refer to Lesson 2 on Whole Farm Nutrient Balance of the national "Livestock and Poultry
Environmental Stewardship" curriculum (available Fall 2001). This resource is available from MWPS,
122 Davidson Hall, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011-3080, phone # 1-800-562-3618. Lesson 2 is
also available from "http://www.mwpshq.org/curriculum_project/Lesson2.pdf".

Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Elbert
Dickey, Director of Cooperative Extension, University of Nebraska, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources. University of Nebraska
Cooperative Extension educational programs abide with the non-discrimination policies of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the U. S.
Department of Agriculture.
Instructions 05/26/2020

Instructions

This balance measures all nutrients that cross the border of the farm. By measuring only nutrients that enter and
exit the farm, the resulting balance defines the degree of nutrient concentration within the borders of the farm.
The boundary of the farm includes all owned or rented land that you farm (not land that is rented to others) and all
livestock production facilities. This nutrient balance should be estimated for a one-year period.

This process will estimate nutrient inputs from five sources and three forms of managed nutrient outputs. Where
appropriate these nutrient inputs and managed outputs can be corrected for changes in the nutrient inventory
occuring within the farm (e.g. more grain in storage at end of year vs. beginning of year or expansion of herd or
flock size). The measures to be made include the following:

Worksheet Nutrient Input Managed Output Inventory Correction

Contact Info. Producer and Advisor Contact Information
Livestock Purchased Livestock & Poultry Sold Livestock & Poultry Change in Herd/Flock Size
(Table I.A) (Table I.B) (Table I.D)
Milk, Eggs, and Wool Sold
(Table I.C)
Feeds & Grain Purchased Feeds, Forages, & Sold Feeds, Forages, and Change in Inventory of Feeds,
Grains (Table II.A) Grains (Table II.B) Forages, & Grains (Table II.C)
Fertilizer & Manure Purchased Fertilizers and other Manure or Compost Change in Fertilizer or Manure
Nutrient Sources Sold (Table III.C) Inventory (Table III.C)
Miscellaneous Legume Fixed Nitrogen
(Table IV.A)
Nitrogen in Irrigation Water
(Table IV.B)

For estimating Nutrient Inputs and Outputs, information is required on the total commodity (feeds, forages, crops
and fertilizers) weight and nutrient content. If a nutrient concentration is unknown, please select a representation
feed, forage, or fertilizer value from the reference tables. All estimates are made for a one-year period.

Step 1 If a new anaylsis of a nutrient balance is to be conducted, you can erase all existing data inputs by clicking
on the "Clear All" button to erase all worksheets. If only the data entry in the Introduction worksheet
needs to be erased, click on the "Clear Introduction" button.

Step 2. Move to "Contact Info." worksheet by clicking on "Next Page==>" or "Contact Info." buttons. Enter
contact information for your farm and the advisor completing this analysis.

Step 3. Move to the "Livestock and Poultry Products" worksheet by clicking on the "Next Page==>" or
"Livestock" buttons.

Table I.A. For all livestock and poultry purchased or added to the farm by other arrangements, enter the 1)
Livestock or Poultry Group, 2) Number of animals purchased, and 3) average live weight of those
animals.
2
Instructions 05/26/2020

Table I.A. For all livestock and poultry purchased or added to the farm by other arrangements, enter the 1)
Livestock or Poultry Group, 2) Number of animals purchased, and 3) average live weight of those
animals.

Table I.B. For all livestock and poultry leaving the farm (e.g. sold, mortality), enter the 1) Livestock or
Poultry Group, 2) Number of animals sold or transferred off-farm, and 3) average live weight of those
animals.

Table 1.C. For all livestock and poultry products sold (milk, eggs, and wool), enter the quantity of product
sold. If the crude protein of the product sold is different from the assumed concentrations of 3.2 and 12%
for milk and egg, respectively, enter the crude protein levels for individual farm products.

Table I.D. For all livestock or poultry groups where the inventory of animals has changed (e.g. herd or
flock expansion), enter 1) livestock or poultry group, 2) number of animals in inventory at the beginning
and end of the year, and 3) average weight of those animals.

Step 4. Move to the "Feed, Forages, Grains, and Other Crops" worksheet by clicking on the "Next Page==>" or
"Feeds & Grains" buttons.

Table II.A. For all feeds and crops purchased or supplied from off-farm sources, enter 1) Each purchased
feed product, 2) Whether "Wet or Dry Basis" is used for measuring product and concentration, 3) Amount
of feed product purchased, and 4) Units of measure for the feed product. If assumed crude protein and
phosphorus book values are not acceptable, enter 5) Individual farm values for protein and phosphorus
concentrations may be entered.

Table II.B. For all feeds, forages, grains and other crops sold, enter the same information as detailed for
Table II.A.

Table II.C. For all feed and crops stored on your farm and that have changed in inventory between
January 1 and December 31, indicate the same information as requested by Tables II.A. and II.B.

Step 5 Move to the "Fertilizer, Manure, and Other Crop Nutrient Products" worksheet by clicking on the "Next
Page==>" or "Fertilizer & Manure" buttons.

Table III.A. For all crop nutrient sources (e.g. fertilizer, manure, biosolids) purchased or supplied to the
farm from off-farm sources, enter 1) Each crop nutrient source purchased or supplied to the farm, 2)
Amount purchased or supplied to the farm, and 3) Units of measure for the crop nutrient products. If
assumed nitrogen or phosphorus book values are not acceptable for some products, enter 4) Individual
farm values for nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations may be entered. All phosphorus values should be
entered as elemental P, not P2O5.

Table III.B. For all crop nutrient products sold or given away to off-farm users, enter the same information
as detailed for Table IIIA.

Table II.C. For all crop nutrient products stored on your farm and that have changed in inventory between
January 1 and December 31, indicate the same information as requested by Tables III.A.

3
Instructions 05/26/2020

Table II.C. For all crop nutrient products stored on your farm and that have changed in inventory between
January 1 and December 31, indicate the same information as requested by Tables III.A.

Step 6 Move to the "Miscellaneous Nitrogen Sources" worksheet by clicking on the "Next Page==>" or "Misc."
buttons.

Table IV.A. Legume crops grown on non-manured soils fix atmospheric nitrogen into organic nitrogen
and serve as a source of additional nitrogen input to a farm. To account for this nitrogen source, enter 1)
All non-manured legume crops, 2) Acres of crop produced (legumes not manured in last two years), 3)
Average yield of legume crop, and 4) Units of measure. If assumed crude protein values are not
acceptable for some products, enter 5) Individual farm values for crude protein concentrations may be
entered. Yield and nutrient concentration should be entered on a wet weight basis.

Table IV.B. Irrigation water containing nitrates (not including effluent from lagoons or feedlot runoff
holding ponds) is a source of nitrogen input to a farm. Enter 1) Individual well identifying information, 2)
water nitrate level, and 3) amount of water pumped. Amount of water can be entered as "acre-inches" or
average well pumping rate in gallons per minute and time (hours) of well operation for a one year period.

Step 7 Move to the "Whole Farm Nutrient Balance Summary" worksheet by clicking on the "Next Page==>" or
"Summary" buttons. You can print out a copy of all pages by clicking on "Print All" button or the
summary page only by clicking on "Print Summary" button.

Step 8 A desirable Phosphorus Input to Managed Output target is 1 to 1. A ratio of less than 1.5 to 1 for
phosphorus is likely to be acceptable. If a ratio is greater than 1.5 to 1, you may want to explore options
that reduce this imbalance. Some of the more common strategies include:
a) Exporting manure or compost to off-farm users of these products (increases managed nutrient
outputs).
b) More efficient utilization and accurate crediting of manure nutrients in a cropping program for the
purpose of reducing purchased commercial fertilizer use (reduces fertilizer inputs).
c) Reduced feed nutrient purchases through alternative feed rations or alternative cropping strategies
to increase the on-farm production of feed nutrients (reduces feed nutrient inputs)
d) Treatment technologies that benignly disposes of nutrients (increases managed nutrient outputs).

A desirable Nitrogen Input to Managed Output target is difficult to define. Most manure management
systems lose ammonia nitrogen through volatilization, a difficult loss to control. By achieving an
acceptable Phosphorus ratio as defined above, a reasonable nitrogen balance should also be achieved.

For additional information on whole farm nutrient balance and strategies for correcting an imbalance, the
reader should refer to Lesson 2 on Whole Farm Nutrient Balance of the national "Livestock and Poultry
Environmental Stewardship" curriculum (available Fall 2001). This resource is available from MWPS,
122 Davidson Hall, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011-3080, phone # 1-800-562-3618.

4
 Producer and Advisor Contact Information
Step 2. Enter contact information about your farm and the advisor completing this analysis. Information can
be entered only in aqua colored cells.

Producer's Name: John Doe Farm Name:

Address: Rural Route Phone:
Address: Fax:
Town, State, Zip: Pierce, NE 69999 e-mail:

Advisor's Name: Joe Consultant Phone:

formation
mpleting this analysis. Information can

Beef Case Study

402/888-8888

john.doe@farmnet.org

402/499-9999 Producer Information

may be entered
only in aqua
colored cells.

Cells with no
background color
are locked and
cannot be changed.
 05/26/2020

I. LIVESTOCK AND POULTRY PRODUCTS

I. A. Animal Inputs: For a one year period, indicate the number of animals purchased and their
average live purchase weight (include custom fed animals).
Average Nitrogen Phosphorus
Number of
Purchase Total Total
Livestock or Poultry Group Animals
Weight Fraction Weight Fraction Weight
Purchased
(lbs) (1,000 lbs) (1,000 lbs)
Ex.: Beef Cattle (< 1,000 lbs) 3,000 600 0.027 48.6 0.0073 13.1
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
TOTAL - -

I. B. Animal Outputs: For a one year period, indicate the number of animals sold or shipped off farm
and average live weight (include custom fed animals, culls, and mortality).
Nitrogen Phosphorus
Average
Number of Sell Total Total
Livestock or Poultry Group
Animals Sold Weight Fraction Weight Fraction Weight
(lbs) (1,000 lbs) (1,000 lbs)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
TOTAL - -

I. C. Animal Products Output: For a one year period, indicate the quanity of animal products sold.
Fraction Nitrogen Phosphorus
Animal Product Pounds Sold Crude Total Wt. Total Wt.
Protein* Fraction Fraction
(1,000 lbs) (1,000 lbs)
1. Milk 0.005 0.0010
2. Eggs 0.019 0.0020
3. Wool 0.120 0.0001
TOTAL - -
* If crude protein is known, enter your value. Table assumes 3.2% and 12% crude protein in milk and eggs, respectively.

I. D. Change in Animal Inventory: (beginning vs. end of year). For those livestock groups that have changed in numbers fed
from the beginning to the end of the year, indicate that change in inventory below.
1-Jan 31-Dec Nitrogen Phosphorus
Livestock or Poultry Group Average Number Average Total
Number of N P Total Weight
Weight of Weight Weight
Animals Fraction Fraction (1000 lbs)
(lbs) Animals (lbs) (1000 lbs)
Example: Cattle 1,500 925 1,700 925 0.027 5 0.0073 1
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Total for Decreasing Inventory - -
Total for Increasing Inventory - -

Page 2
 05/26/2020

II. FEEDS, FORAGES, GRAINS, AND OTHER CROPS

II.A. Inputs: For a one year period, enter all grain, supplement, forage, bedding, and minerals purchased. Amount purchased and
nutrient content must both be entered on same moisture basis, either "Wet or Dry Weight Basis".
All Purchased Feeds Nitrogen Phosphorus
Wet or Fraction Crude
List Feeds, Forages, Grains or Protein Total N Fraction Phosphorus
Dry Amount
Supplements Purchased or Units (1,000
Weight Purchased Your Your Book
Brought Onto Farm lbs)
Basis* Value Book Value Value Value
Example: Soybean meal - 44% Wet 1,000,000 0.440 71 0.0063
1. - -
2. - -
3. - -
4. - -
5. - -
6. - -
7. - -
TOTAL -
* If feed intake and nutrient concentration is entered on an "As Fed" or "Wet Weight Basis" basis, enter "Wet"
If feed intake and nutrient concentration is entered on a "Dry Weight Basis", enter a "Dry".

II.B Outputs: For the same one year period, indicate all grain, supplement, hay, silage, bedding, and minerals sold.
. All Feeds, Grains, or Forages Sold Nitrogen Phosphorus
Wet or Fraction Crude
List Feeds, Forages, Grains or Protein Total N Fraction Phosphorus
Dry Amount
Supplements Sold or Units (1,000
Weight Sold Your Your Book
Transferred Off-Farm lbs)
Basis* Value Book Value Value Value
1. - -
2. - -
3. - -
4. - -
5. - -
6. - -
7. - -
TOTAL -

II.C. Change in Inventory: (beginning vs end of year). If any previously mentioned crop or feed stored on-farm has changed in
inventory, indicate that change below.
All Feeds, Grains, or Forages Sold Nitrogen Phosphorus
Wet or Fraction Crude
List Feeds, Forages, Grains or Protein Total N Fraction Phosphorus
Dry
Supplements Sold or Inventory Units (1,000
Weight Your Your Book
Transferred Off-Farm lbs)
Basis* Value Book Value Value Value
January 1 Inventory
1. - - -
2. - - -
3. - - -
December 31 Inventory
1. - - - - -
2. - - - - -
3. - - - - -

Page 3
 05/26/2020

Total for Decreasing Inventory -

Total for Increasing Inventory -

Page 3
 05/26/2020

ES, GRAINS, AND OTHER CROPS

ement, forage, bedding, and minerals purchased. Amount purchased and

ure basis, either "Wet or Dry Weight Basis".
Phosphorus

Total P
(1000
lbs)

grain, supplement, hay, silage, bedding, and minerals sold.

Phosphorus

Total P
(1000
lbs)

f any previously mentioned crop or feed stored on-farm has changed in

Phosphorus

Total P
(1000
lbs)

January 1 Inventory
-
-
-
December 31 Inventory
-
-
-

Page 3
 05/26/2020

-
-

Page 3
 05/26/2020

III. FERTILIZER, MANURE, AND OTHER CROP NUTRIENT PRODUCTS

III.A. Fertilizer Inputs: (dry, liquid, anhydrous, etc). For a one year period, enter all fertilizer purchases from off-farm
suppliers, quantity purchased, and nitrogen and phosphorus content. Phosphorus should be entered as % P, not %
P205. To convert from P205 to P, divide P205 concentration by 2.29.
Fertilizer Inputs Nutrient Content Total Inputs
Units
Fertilizer, manure, or compost purchased Amount Total N Total P
Units N P of
or brought onto farm. Purchased
Measure (1,000 lbs)
Example: Anhydrous Ammonia 50 tons 0.82 - fraction 82 -
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
TOTAL - -

III.B. Managed Outputs: For a one year period, list all fertilizers, manures or composts sold, traded, or given away and
your best estimate of the quanity involved. Again, phosphorus should be reported as % P, not % P 205. To convert
from P205 to P, divide P205 concentration by 2.29.
Manure and Other Nutrient Outputs Nutrient Content Total Outputs
Units
Fertilizer, manure, or compost sold, traded Total N Total P
Amount Units N P of
or given away to off-farm users.
Measure (1,000 lbs)
Example: Manure 500 tons 0.0075 0.0050 fraction 8 5
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
TOTAL - -

III.C. Change in Inventory: (beginning vs. end of year). If the inventory of any previously mentioned product has changed from the
beginnning to the end of the year, indicated that change below. Again, phosphorus should be reported as % P, not % P 205.
To convert from P205 to P, divide P205 concentration by 2.29.
Fertilizer Inventory: Nutrient Content Total Outputs
Units
Jan. 1 Dec. 31 Total N Total P
Fertilizer, manure, or compost Item Units N P of
inventory inventory
Measure (1,000 lbs)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Total for Decreasing Inventory - -
Total for Increasing Inventory - -
 05/26/2020

IV. MISCELLANEOUS NITROGEN SOURCES

IV.A. Inputs as Legume Fixed Nitrogen: For all legumes not manured within the past two years, indicate crop
grown, acres grown, yield, and crude protein content (wet weight basis).
Legume Crop Data Nitrogen

Average yield Fraction Crude Protein** Total

Acres not
Non-Manured Legume Crops Nitrogen
manured
Units Your Value Book Value (1,000 lbs)

1st year hay (> 90% Legumes) 100 4 tons/ac 0.15 5.8
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
TOTAL -
** Enter crude protein content on a wet weight basis (or as fed).

IV.B. Inputs as Nitrogen in Irrigation Water: List all irrigation wells, quantity of fresh water pumped, and nitrate-N
concentration, if known. Do not include effluent from a lagoon or feedlot runoff control pond.

Well Data Nitrogen

Amount Pumped Total
PPM
Well Flow Rate Annual Use Nitrogen
Nitrate-N Ac-inches OR
(gpm) (hrs/yr) (lbs)
Example: Home Well 15 1700 5.8
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
TOTAL -
 05/26/2020

Nitrogen Balance
Nitrogen Inputs
Inputs Rounded Inventory Rounded Corrected Rounded
Correction Inputs
Animals 0 - - - - - Animals &
Animal Products

Feed 0 - - - - - Crops

Fertilizer 0 - - - - - Manure
& compost

Legumes 0 - - - -

Irrigation 0 - - -

TOTAL - - TOTAL

Input to Output Ratio:

Imbalance -

Phosphorus Balance
P Inputs
Inputs Rounded Inventory Rounded Corrected Rounded
Correction Inputs
Animals 0 - 0 - 0 - Animals &
Animal Products

Feed 0 - 0 - 0 - Crops

Fertilizer 0 - 0 - 0 - Manure
& compost

TOTAL 0 - TOTAL

Input to Output Ratio:

Imbalance
 05/26/2020

Managed Nitrogen Outputs

Outputs Rounded
0 -

0 -

0 -

#DIV/0!

Managed P Outputs

Outputs Rounded
0 -

0 -

0 -

#DIV/0!
-