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Manure Management

© Don De Beyer

One of the by products of raising livestock is the messy job of dealing with the manure produced. As our farms become increasingly populated with livestock, the need to spread the larger and larger volumes of waste becomes more difficult. When the country was mainly made up of small farms and small towns the land area available was sufficient to easily support the waste our animals produced. However, over time we have seen cities grow in size and farmed areas dwindle. This has caused not only less land to spread our manure on but also the need to spread more per acre in some places.

Over time, this has resulted in pollution problems that have resulted in farmers facing stricter regulation on the spreading and handling of animal wastes. Manure although useful on the farm is also a potentially dangerous product if it enters water/food systems or is handled incorrectly. Therefore, the need for proper manure management practices is a requirement on the modern farm.

The amount and quality of the manure produced varies depending on the livestock. In addition, the manner in which the manure is handled (solid, semi-solid or liquid waste) can also change its nutrient value. A dairy cow for example can produce about 20 tons of waste per year. One sow can produce 3 tons and a chicken about 0.05. Considering that one dairy farm could have 200 to 300 head, it translates into the need to store and spread many tons of manure per year.

A farmer has several options when it comes to the storage and handling of manure. The nature of farming is such that there is a need for some storage capacity on most farms. Manure must be spread only during certain periods of the year. Spreading during some months may be impossible in some areas due to snow-covered fields or excessively wet conditions. Many jurisdictions in Canada require the farmer to have sufficient storage capacity for at least 6 months worth of manure produced on their farm. Regulations also will require the farmer to factor in rainwater, and a safety margin to ensure a storage tank does not overflow or runoff does not become an environmental hazard.

In order to apply manure in an environmentally friendly manner and utilize the full potential of your fertilizer a farmer will need to consider the following. Develop a plan for the use of manure on your farm and determine the nutrient value before spreading. Make sure there is sufficient land available for manure produced on the farm. Check, calibrate and match equipment to your application needs and spread the manure in a uniform manner. Whenever possible match manure application with the crop’s needs.

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