Minnesota Nitrogen Fertilizer Management Plan

Nitrate is one of the most common contaminants in Minnesota's groundwater. The majority of Minnesota households have access to safe drinking water supplies. However, in areas vulnerable to groundwater contamination, some public and private wells have nitrate levels that exceed the health risk limit for nitrate. While elevated levels of nitrate in groundwater can result from several factors, a major contributor in rural Minnesota is nitrogen fertilizer that leaches past the crop root zone.

Our agency is responsible for nitrogen fertilizer use and management under the Groundwater Protection Act. To meet this need the MDA, in cooperation with a multi-stakeholder Advisory Committee and a public review process, developed a management plan.

The Minnesota Nitrogen Fertilizer Management Plan (NFMP) has recently been addended to reflect the new Groundwater Protection Rule. The NFMP is the state's blueprint for preventing or minimizing impacts of nitrogen fertilizer on groundwater.