- What software does MMP require to run?

MMP runs under Windows 7 and later. No other software is required for basic program operation. If you want to use a custom tool, you will need any software that the tool uses. Most custom tools generate a report using Microsoft Word. A few custom tools require Microsoft Access. To see what software a tool requires, look on the Tools dialog box's Custom panel.

- What changes does MMP's installer make to my system?

MMP's installer does not add or replace any files in the Windows or system folders. The only changes the installer makes are the following:

• Creates a folder that you specify where it stores the MMP program and other files that MMP needs.
• Creates Custom and Samples folders under C:\ProgramData\Manure Management Planner for MMP's templates and example plan files.
• Adds an MMP item to the Start menu. You can select this menu item to start MMP.
• Adds an MMP shortcut to the Windows desktop on non-USDA-NRCS computers. You can double-click this shortcut to start MMP. (Tip: If you don't like to clutter up your desktop with shortcuts, you can delete the MMP shortcut by right-clicking on it and selecting Delete. You can still start MMP from the Start menu or by double-clicking an MMP plan file in Windows Explorer.)
• Adds several keys to the Windows Registry that are required for file association and uninstalling MMP.

- Can I uninstall MMP?

Yes. If you need to remove MMP from your system, use the Windows Control Panel to uninstall MMP. This removes the items listed in the previous question. Be sure to exit MMP first before uninstalling it. Also, if more than one version of MMP is listed, uninstall the highest numbered version first. Uninstalling MMP does not delete or move plan files that you've created. If you reinstall MMP later, just navigate to where you saved your plan files to open them.

Important! Sometimes you may want to uninstall only an older version of MMP and keep the newer version. Uninstalling the older version may delete the MMP shortcut from the Windows desktop and Start menu. If this happens, simply run the newer version's installer again to restore the deleted shortcuts.

- Is there a Mac or Linux version of MMP available?

No. MMP is a Windows-only program.

- Is MMP a recordkeeping program?

MMP itself is not a recordkeeping program in the usual sense, although you enter some of the same data that you would for farm recordkeeping. MMP is a planning program that helps determine if an animal feeding operation has enough storage, equipment, and spreadable acres to handle the manure produced by the operation's animals during the period of the plan. MMP does include the Manure Application Recordkeeping Tool (MART) for entering information about actual manure applications. This tool draws on field, storage and equipment data entered in MMP. The Recordkeeping Tool can be found on the Custom panel of the Tools dialog box.

- Can MMP be used with other software?

Yes. There are several ways that MMP can be used with other software:

• You can export plan data and other data to an Access file or to dBASE files. You can then open these exported files with other software to work with your data.
• You can import field data into MMP from other software or sources.
• You can add custom tools developed with other software to MMP.
• Other software can manipulate MMP remotely via Automation, using MMP as an "engine" for generating fertilizer recommendations and performing other calculations.
• MapWindows GIS + MMP Tools can be used to create maps that are then copied and pasted into a CNMP. That said, the MMP Tools soils database is not current and does not match the RUSLE2 soils database, nor does it align with the soils data that ships with MMP v4.0 and later. This software should only be used to create maps for use in the CNMP.
• The official RUSLE2 application available here can be used to generate the SSURGO soils database (*.gdb) needed by MMP. Learn more in the RUSLE2 Data Editor section of the Help page. If you need help generating a RUSLE2 database for the CNMP please contact Tibor Horvath at Tibor.Horvath@usda.gov or 336-312-4804.
• The Animal Waste Management (AWM) software available here can be used to estimate the required size of waste management facilities.

- Where should I save my plan files?

When you save a new plan file, you can save it anywhere you want. However, here are a few suggestions:

• Your Windows user login has a folder called Documents where you can save your plan files and other files that you create.
• You can create a folder where you can save just your plan files to keep them separate from files created by other programs. To locate and open a plan file in this folder, click the Open button and navigate to your folder using the controls at the top of the Open Manure Management Plan File dialog box. You can also open a plan file by double-clicking on the file (.mmp extension) in Windows Explorer.
• In general, don't open and work with a plan file on a memory stick or other removable media. Work with the plan file on your hard drive, then back it up when you're all done editing the file with MMP.

- How do I move a plan to another computer?

Simply copy the plan file (.mmp extension) to the other computer. Remember that the other computer must have the same or a more recent version of MMP installed in order to open the plan file.

If you entered RUSLE2 data into your plan, you'll also need to copy the RUSLE2 database file (.gdb) that the plan references to the other computer, or else the other computer must have a RUSLE2 database containing the same RUSLE2 data that your plan references.

Tip: You can send a plan file as an attachment to an e-mail message. It's a good idea to zip up the plan file and send the zipped file to prevent the plan file from being modified in transit or by the recipient's e-mail system. If you include the RUSLE2 .gdb, zipping will reduce the size of the attachment considerably.

- How do I import my soil test data into MMP?

MMP can import field data from dBASE files that are in its standard import format. Click the Import dBASE Field Data File button on the Tools dialog's Import panel to start MMP's Import Wizard, then select the dBASE file to import. You can also import field data from comma-separated-values (CSV) files created by Excel and other programs.

Note: MMP's standard dBASE import format is documented in file ImportDbfSpec.doc in MMP's TechDocs folder. For an example of a standard dBASE field data import file, see file ImportExample_IN.dbf in the Samples folder.

Tip: To use the field identification from a soil test data file in your plan, import the data into a new plan that does not have any field data entered yet.

- How do I import data from the Customer Service Toolkit?

You can import Toolkit customer data into an MMP plan as follows:

• Use Toolkit to export the customer's data to an XML file. You can also request this XML file from your local NRCS field office.
• In MMP, click the New button and create a new plan for the customer's state.
• In MMP, click the Tools button and click the Import Toolkit Customer XML File button on the Import panel.
• Navigate to where you saved the XML file and select it.
• MMP will prompt you to select one or more conservation plans to import, then import customer name and address data for the first participant in the XML file and field data for all selected conservation plans in the XML file.

- How many years should my plan be?

In general, you should have enough years in your plan to handle your longest crop rotation. If almost all of your fields are on a two-year rotation, you might be able to do just a two-year plan, since very little will be different between years 1 and 3 or years 2 and 4. If you have fields that are on a three- or four-year rotation, you will probably want to have a longer plan. A five-year plan is useful if you want to see what the projected impact of manure application will be on soil test levels after a couple of rotations.

- What month should I start my plan?

Pick a month so you can plan all manure and fertilizer applications intended for the first crop. For example, if no manure is applied during the growing season until Sept., then July, Aug. or Sept. would be a good starting month. You can also start the plan in winter or spring if no nutrient applications or tillage operations are made the previous fall.

Note that if you start a plan in late summer or early fall, you should only plan nutrient applications for the following year's crops, not for the current year's crops. For example, if you start a plan in July in order to plan manure applications that are normally made immediately after wheat harvest, don't plan any nutrient applications made to growing crops in the starting year's July or August. To determine if you should plan a nutrient application in the starting year of a plan that starts in late summer or early fall, ask yourself what crop it's targeting. If the target crop is grown in the plan's starting year, don't plan the application since that crop is not in the plan.

- What field identification system should I use?

You can use whatever system you want to identify fields. For each field, you enter a main field ID and an optional subfield ID if you've subdivided the fields and are managing the subfields separately. In general, a subfield is the smallest manageable unit in the field.

A field ID can be up to 15 characters long and a subfield ID can be up to 5 characters long. The only requirement is that the combined field ID and subfield ID must be unique within the plan.

- Why aren't there any soils in the Soil Type list on the Fields panel?

Make sure you've selected a county on the General panel. The pick list only contains soils that are valid for that county.

- How do I decide which soil type to select for a field?

• If a field has more than one soil type, select the type that's most important to you. This could be the type with the most acreage or the field's critical soil type.
• With a soil complex, select the component that's most like the field's predominant soil.
• In some cases, more than one soil survey may have been conducted in the county you selected. The soil survey ID is included with the map unit symbol in the soil description to distinguish between duplicate map units. Be sure to pick a soil that is in the appropriate survey for the field.
• Sometimes an operation's fields may span more than one county. With a field that's not located in the county you selected on the General panel, select a different county for the field on the Fields panel.
• Example: After locating a field on the published soil survey map, you determine that its soils are made up of about 70% SwA (Starks-Fincastle complex) and 30% Md (Mahalasville-Treaty complex). You decide that SwA is most representative of the field since it makes up the most area and also because its 1-3% organic matter is more typical of the field than Md's 3-6% organic matter. Since SwA is a complex, you pick the largest (first) component, Starks. As the largest component of SwA, Starks probably makes up at least half of the SwA area in the field, or about 35% of the entire field.

- How do I select the soil test data's units on the Soil Tests panel?

Check the Levels Are In Lb/A box if a field's P, K, Mg, Ca, Na and Al soil test levels are in pounds per acre; leave the box unchecked if the test levels are in ppm. All five values must be in the same units.

To convert a soil test level that's expressed in ppm to Lb/A, multiply by 2. To convert a soil test level that's expressed in Lb/A to ppm, divide by 2.

- How do I override MMP's default fertilizer recommendations?

MMP's fert recs are based on your state's extension recommendations. If you have custom fert recs that you prefer to use instead, enter your recs in the appropriate Custom columns on the Crops panel. MMP will use your custom fert recs instead of its default fert recs. Be sure you document the source of your custom recs by entering that information in the Source column. To view the source of MMP's default fert recs, click on a default fert rec cell. MMP displays the source in the status line. This source is usually an extension publication that you can go to for more information.

- How do I enter a field's previous crop for the first year of a plan?

You don't need to enter a previous crop for a field's first year. MMP attempts to determine the first year's previous crop by looking at the field's crop rotation. Once you've entered crops for enough years, MMP can determine the rotation; it will then update the first year's N rec, taking any N credit if applicable.

If a field's planned crop rotation isn't the same as its historical rotation, or if you don't think MMP is determining the first year's previous crop properly, you can add or subtract the N credit from the first year's default N rec and enter your N rec in the first year's Custom N Rec column. This will override the Default N Rec column. Be sure to document the reason for the custom N rec in the Source column.

To determine the amount of N credit and whether the crop can take a credit, consult the indicated source of the default N recommendation (displayed on the status bar when you click on the crop's Default N Rec column).

- How do I enter a double crop or a cover crop?

On the Crops panel, enter the second crop in the Planned Crop column, then scroll the grid to the right and enter the first crop or cover crop in the Planned Cover Crop or First Crop column. MMP considers a cover crop to be a non-harvested crop, so don't enter a yield goal for a cover crop if it won't be harvested.

MMP considers a first crop to be the first harvested crop in a double-cropped year, so be sure to enter a yield goal for a first crop. If the field will have only one harvested crop in the current year, enter it as the Planned Crop, even if it's planted in the fall.

- How do I override MMP's estimated manure analysis and production?

Scroll the grid to the right on the Analysis panel and enter a measured manure analysis and production. Be sure to document the source and date of your analysis by entering a lab name or other information in the Source column.

- How does MMP estimate how much N is lost from manure applied to a field?

MMP uses state-specific N availability factors to estimate the amount of manure N available to crops. To see the source of these factors, click on a manure application's Avail N As Applied column on the Nutrient Mgmt panel. The source will be displayed on the status bar. You can also click the Storage Info button on the Storage panel and find the source in note 2 at the bottom of the report.

- How does MMP determine what crop the manure is fertilizing?

MMP assumes the following for most states:

• Manure applied during Oct. through Dec. is for the following year's crop.
• Manure applied during Jan. through June is for the current year's crop.
• Manure applied during July, Aug. and Sept. following a small grain crop harvested that summer is for the following year's crop.
• Manure applied during July and August on a row crop (corn, soybeans, etc.) is for the current year's row crop.
• Manure applied during July, Aug. and Sept. on a forage crop (alfalfa, pasture, hay) is for the current year's forage crop.

- What does it mean when a Field Status cell turns red?

When the background color of a Field Status cell (middle grid on the Nutrient Mgmt panel) is red, this means that no more manure is needed that month, either because of an earlier manure application that year or a multi-year application in a previous year. In general, you should only apply manure in months with a white background. Note that MMP does not highlight months following custom rate applications because it doesn't know the intended nutrient target with custom rates.

- How do I show manure that will be exported or imported from the operation?

If your plan will be exporting some of the manure it produces or importing manure from another operation, click on a Storage Status cell (top grid on the Nutrient Mgmt panel) and press F2. This brings up the Manure Transfer Editor, where you can specify how much manure will be exported or imported that month for that storage. Click the Editor's Help button for more information.

- How can I sort one of the data entry grids?

You can sort the Fields, Assessment, Soil Tests, Storage, Animals, Analysis and Equipment grids by any column. Right-click on the header row of the column you want to sort the grid by and choose Sort Ascending or Sort Descending from the popup menu.

- How do I delete or insert a field?

On the Fields panel, right-click the indicator column (») of the field you want to delete or the row where you want to insert a new field, then choose Delete Field or Insert Field from the popup menu.

- How can I avoid re-entering duplicate field data?

If you have data that's the same for several fields (for example, field ID's, farm ID's, FSA ID's, yield goals), you can copy and paste this data between grid cells using the Windows clipboard. For example, with a field that's been divided into subfields, enter the field ID and subfield ID for the first subfield, then move back to the field ID column and press Ctrl+C. This copies the highlighted field ID to the Windows clipboard. Now move to the field ID cell of the next subfield's row in the grid and press Ctrl+V. This pastes the clipboard contents (the field ID) into the field ID cell. Tab to the next column and enter the subfield ID. Repeat this for each subfield that has the same field ID.

Tip: You can also right-click in a grid cell and choose the Copy or Paste command from the popup menu.

- Why aren't the numbers right justified in the columns of the built-in reports?

This is a known problem with the rich text control included with Windows.

For best results, you can view the report in Microsoft Word by checking the View Report With Word box on the Tools dialog's Reports panel. You can also save the report to a Rich Text Format file in the Preview dialog box, then open the file in Word for viewing and printing.

- Why don't the columns line up properly in my reports?

Your storage and equipment ID's may be too long. These reports try to pack in a lot of information and don't have much room to display these ID's. One solution is to keep storage and equipment ID's to no more that 15 mixed-case characters.

- How can I print a blank form for use in recording plan data away from the computer?

Open file BlankForm.doc in MMP's Samples folder and print it with Word. To see an example of the data collection form with data, open file SampleForm.doc in MMP's Samples folder.