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Farm Events: |
Farm News: Manure Management - Number One JobcommentsPosted: 02.10.2011
Even with plenty of snow cover now – any farmer that has livestock needs to be making smart moves against manure run off.
New research out from the UW-Discover Farms Program shows that manure applied to snow covered and/or frozen soils during conditions of snow melt or rain on frozen soils can contribute the majority of the annual nutrient losses.
Starting next week – forecasts are warming up – and that can mean a serious threat that a lot of the applied manure will start.
Dennis Frame, coordinator of the on farm research says that snowmelt runoff this year could be BIG because of all the snow!
Snow depths are generally 1‐2 feet throughout much of Wisconsin, which is much higher than normal, especially in Southern Wisconsin. In Madison, for example, there is typically about 5 inches of snow on the ground in early February. As of February 3, there was nearly 20 inches. If all of this snow were melted, the liquid equivalent would be approximately 2‐4 inches, with as much as 6 inches or more in some areas of the state. As the temperatures moderate, producers need to listen to the weather forecast. Avoid spreading manure when there
is a high probability of rain on frozen soils.
What can producers do to reduce the risk of manure run off?
During the period of active snow melt or when rain is predicted on frozen soils, producers who must haul manure from their barns should stack it in an area where the potential for runoff or groundwater infiltration is low,
Farmers who daily haul manure should work with their local conservation departments to identify safe stacking sites that have minimal potential to runoff into either surface or groundwater,
Producers who have lots or facilities with bedded pack systems need to be cautious about spreading this manure
during this high risk period. Cleaning lots and getting the manure on the fields before the frost goes out can greatly increase the potential for nutrient losses,
Producers who must haul manure during this high risk period should identify fields that are away from streams or lakes and have minimal risk of manure running to surface or groundwater.
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