Manure management is a huge issue in certain parts of the Midwest that farmers are looking for answers to. In this article, we'll talk about why this is a growing issue, the efforts that are being taken by the government to regulate manure applications, and how you can manage this issue on your farm.

To begin with, manure management is a much bigger concern across the country than ever before because of the concentration of livestock operations. More and bigger livestock facilities for dairy, swine, and poultry are being constructed everyday, and something has to be done with the manure. Even 10 or 20 years ago, this was no big deal, because most farmers had a few head of livestock on their farm, and they would spread the manure on their fields on a rotating basis. Now, however, it's a different story.

Another reason that manure is a more important topic in certain areas is because of urban sprawl. The more acreages are built in the country, the more we hear complaints about farmers. Darren and I talk to farmers every day, and we often hear about the concerns that have been raised to these farmers from city people who have moved to the country. Some people complain about the noise from equipment when farmers work late at night or early in the morning. Some people are concerned about the pesticides that farmers are spraying, and of course, people are always concerned about the odor that comes from manure, especially when it is spread across fields.

The main reason our government has started to step in when it comes to manure management has to do with the excess nutrients that could end up in the wrong places. Manure is composed of organic matter, which is plant or animal residue that is decomposing, and it contains a vast number of nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and many secondary and micronutrients. Of greatest concern are the nitrogen and phosphorus.

Manure is loaded with nitrogen, and it usually has quite a bit of phosphorus, too. Now, some of the nitrogen and phosphorus in manure is in the organic form, and some is in the inorganic state. The inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus is very soluble and available immediately for use by plants. The organic nitrogen and phosphorus will breakdown in time and much of it will be available for plants at a later date.

Each year, a crop can only use so much nitrogen and so much phosphorus. If more is applied to the soil than what the plants use, the excess nutrients could become a problem. Nitrogen is either in the nitrate state or it gets converted to the nitrate form which can leach through the soil surface fairly easily, especially in sandier soils. If the nitrogen happens to leach all the way through the soil profile and into the groundwater, it becomes a pollutant. If there are too many nitrates in water, it could become hazardous for livestock or humans to drink.

With phosphorus, we are almost never worried about it leaching through the soil profile, as phosphorus binds very well to soil particles. The problem here is that it can bind too well to soil. For example, if you surface apply phosphorus and do not work it into the soil, there will be a very heavy concentration of phosphorus in the top inch of soil or less. Then, if any erosion occurs, the dirt that washes away contains extremely high levels of phosphorus.

If phosphorus gets into open water, it can create a condition known as eutrophication. What happens is that in fresh water, there is typically a very low level of phosphorus. There is usually ample nitrogen, potassium, and other nutrients in most fresh water to support the growth of a large amount of plants, but there is so little phosphorus, that most plants can't grow. When erosion occurs and dirt with high levels of phosphorus washes into the fresh water, all of a sudden, phosphorus is in ample supply for plant growth. The worst thing that can grow is blue-green algae. More of this algae means more cyanobacteria in the water, which is capable of producing human and animal toxins. Also, with more plant growth, there is usually a depletion in oxygen in the water, too. In a nutshell, the water becomes unsafe to use.

Because of the problems that excess nitrogen and phosphorus can cause, many state governments and even the federal government are looking at how to address manure application. Again, the real problem comes around large livestock operations.

The more livestock you have, obviously the more manure you have, and that manure has to get spread somewhere. Manure is a great fertilizer, and for many farmers who have a lot of livestock, they have been able to get by without buying commercial fertilizer, and applying manure instead. However, the amount of nutrients contained in manure rarely balances out with the amount of nutrients a crop will need. If you get enough nitrogen, you might not have enough phosphorus, or maybe you have too much phosphorus. If you get enough phosphorus, you might have way too much nitrogen, or maybe you don't have enough nitrogen depending on the crop you're going to raise.

Our suggestion to keep this simple is to test your soil and test your manure every year. Then, put out only enough manure so your soil can hold all the nutrients that the manure contains. Our other piece of advice is to apply the manure well below the soil surface. This will ensure that your nutrients are in the root zone, and they will be less likely to be lost due to erosion. Also, if the manure is well covered, the odor will be much less, and more of the nutrients will be saved, rather than lost to evaporation.

Also, we realize that if you have lots of manure to get rid of, and you have already spread all you can onto your ground, you're going to have to do something with it. This may not be easy for you, but you may need to find other farmers who are willing to take it. Also, you may want to talk to a livestock specialist to try to develop a slightly different ration so that there will be less of certain nutrients in the manure. For example, if phosphorus is your concern, swine and poultry manure usually has more phosphorus than dairy manure. Swine and poultry are unable to convert organic phosphorus into a usable form, as they don't have the right enzymes in their digestive systems. Anyway, this may mean that you might need to look for other sources of phosphorus in your rations so less ends up in the manure.

Well, there is certainly a lot more we could talk about with manure management, but we wanted to cover the basics today. I think the take home message is not to make it too complicated. Here are the steps we would suggest you follow.

First, test your soil and test your manure before application. Second, consult with your agronomist, but be sure not to apply more manure to your soil than it can hold. If you have already added enough manure to meet your nitrogen holding capacity, but you are still short on another nutrient like phosphorus or potassium, simply buy some commercial fertilizer rather than spreading more manure. Also, don't forget to apply your manure well below the soil surface for the best utilization and the least amount of risk that it could be lost to erosion.

Third, plant crops that use the nutrients contained in your manure. For example, if you have lots of nitrogen, be sure to plant a crop like corn that uses a considerable amount of nitrogen.

Finally, if you still have manure left, work with area farmers to get rid of it, and if necessary, change your rations to help alleviate any excess nutrients if possible.

Manure management will become a much larger issue over the next few years, and we will continue to keep you updated on the latest information. Until then, good luck on your farm, and don't hesitate to ask us for advice if you need any help. Our e-mail address is info@agphd.com.