Table of Contents

1. Frequently Asked Questions for New NMAN Users
2. Frequently Asked Questions for NMAN 2
3. Glossary of Terms in NMAN

Frequently Asked Questions for New NMAN Users

Q. What is NMAN?

A. NMAN is a decision-making software developed by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA). The software guides you through the required components of a Nutrient Management Strategy (NMS) and/or Nutrient Management Plan (NMP) and does all of the necessary calculations for you, except for the necessary farmstead and field sketches. A paper-based workbook version is also available as an alternative to the software.

Q. Where does NMAN store my files?

A. NMAN files save as ".nmp" or ".nm2" (depending on the version you are using) files, which can be stored anywhere on your computer. Once you begin using NMAN, the "open" function defaults to the last directory from which you opened a file. When you install a new version of NMAN, the program automatically selects the 'My Documents' folder for saved NMAN files.

Q. How do I print in NMAN?

A. Click on the "Print" icon on the "Main" toolbar or select the "Print" option from the "Menu" toolbar. NMAN prints to an Acrobat file. You may then print your file from Acrobat Reader. If you do not have Acrobat Reader installed on your computer, a free version is available with this software. During installation, NMAN detects if Acrobat Reader is installed on your computer. If NMAN does not properly detect the absence of Acrobat Reader, you can access it from the CD and manually install it. You can also visit the Adobe website and download the Reader.

Q. What do the different flags represent in NMAN?

A. NMAN uses a colour scheme to flag numbers that fall in or out of an acceptable range.

• A green number flag indicates the value received is within an acceptable range.

• A yellow number flag indicates a caution flag (indicated by a yield sign on printouts). With suitable management practices, caution flags are acceptable. Additional documentation is required to justify caution flags when submitting a Nutrient Management Plan (NMP) or Nutrient Management Strategy (NMS) for review.

• A red number flag indicates a warning flag (indicated by a stop sign on printouts). A warning flag represents an area of environmental concern. Changes are needed in the nutrient planning system to eliminate these flags. Only under special circumstances, a NMP or NMS submitted for approval under the Nutrient Management Act (NMA) with warning flags may be acceptable.

Q. What should I enter for the "Operation ID" on the "Farm Unit" screen?

A. Nothing. Upon submission, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) will label each regulated NMP with an Operation ID.

Frequently Asked Questions for NMAN 2.

Q. Can I open a file created in an older version of NMAN in NMAN 2?

A. Yes, NMAN 2 opens and upgrades files created in NMAN programs from 2003-04. Once you have upgraded a file, it is important to update the flags and calculations in your file. Until you update the flags, the "Material Graph" and "Material Remaining" calculations will not reflect your information. It is also important to review the entire file because many calculations have changed and will have an affect on your previously calculated values. The calculations changed due to a regulation amendment, which is why we strongly recommend you review the entire file. Special attention should be paid to the MSTOR and Material Transfer sections of your file as these sections have undergone the most changes.

Q. Why are there so many transfer contacts added to my file when I open it in NMAN 2?

A. Transfer contacts are kept in a separate table from transfer details in NMAN 2.

Older NMAN versions kept transfers together in a single table, making you enter the contact information for a transfer destination each time you entered a transfer event. NMAN 2 makes a copy of this information, which results in duplicate contact information.

Once the file is open in NMAN 2.0.1 you can delete the duplicates, and link each transfer with the corresponding transfer contact by:

1. Opening the "Transfer Contact Summary" screen
   
   
• You can access the "Transfer Contact Summary" from the "Outgoing Transfer Summary" by choosing "Modify Transfer Contacts" from the "Add/Modify Transfers" button
• The "Transfer Contact Summary" screen displays all the transfer contacts within the file (incoming and outgoing).

2. Deleting duplicates of each transfer contact, so only a single copy of each unique contact exists
   
   
3. Opening and editing each transfer to ensure a link to the appropriate contact is made

If you are running NMAN 2.0.2:

• Open each unique Transfer contact, and
• Link to the appropriate transfers by using the "View/Link Transfer Information" button to access the Transfer Contacts Link screen
  
  

Q. Why have my "Material Types" doubled when I open my old NMAN files in NMAN 2?

A. The link between MSTOR and NMAN in your old file must have been broken. You can either re-establish the link in your old NMAN program before re-opening it in NMAN 2 or you can use the Convert this material type to a storage system button on each Material Type's General tab. The Convert this material type to a storage system button requires you to re-enter the MSTOR data, but maintains the material type's association with any transfers or field applications.

Q. How do I represent manure deposited on pasture in MSTOR?

A. When adding livestock in MSTOR a new manure form is available: Pasture. Using the input fields on the Livestock Information screen you can enter the appropriate utilization time that your animals will be on pasture. Pasture material is represented as Grazing Units (GU) and is not included in the "material remaining" calculations.

Q. If I change the file type after I have entered information will I lose my data?

A. No, you can change your file type at anytime without losing any entered information. The file type changes the tabs and calculations available in a file.

Glossary of Terms in NMAN