When Applying Manure, Be Sure to Follow the 4 R's
Published: Friday, February 16, 2018
The following is from Abigail Murrish, a freelance writer.
Applying manure to fields is a well-established agricultural practice. Yet, implementing this practice in the winter proves a challenge for farmers. Assessing the appropriate amount of manure to apply to fields poses a difficult task because the rates shift from what is typical during the summer.
"It is always important to apply manure properly," says Barry Sneed, the public information officer for the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM). "In the winter, frozen or snow-covered ground is harder and does not absorb the manure as well. If you apply at rates that you would in the summer, you will have an increased risk of manure runoff and it may get into waters of the state."
And manure running off into the waterways can have financial consequences for the family farm and environmental impacts in Indiana. A farm's runoff can impact the state's waters and, if that happens, the farm is held accountable for the cleanup and may face enforcement action by IDEM.
Julia Wickard, former state executive director of the USDA Farm Service Agency in Indiana, understands that farmers may have questions about manure application.
"I look forward to working with farmers to address any environmental issues they have on their farms. As a producer myself, I understand how anxious one can be about talking to regulatory agencies. I am here to help and stand ready to assist in getting answers for Hoosier farmers," she said.
Fortunately, with a handful of easy steps, farmers can mitigate issues that might arise when dealing with manure application in the winter.
IDEM encourages farmers to consider weather forecasts, soil moisture, surface waters, drainage tiles, odor and method of application before applying any manure to a field. Each of these factors plays a role in how manure absorbs into the soil to which it is applied.
According to Sneed, the Four Rs of nutrient management—right place, right time, right rate and right source—also apply to manure application. Successfully applying manure to the fields leads to crops utilizing nutrients in the manure and keeping excess nutrients from running off into the environment.
Sneed outlined four straightforward guidelines to practice successful manure application and guard against runoff:
1. Do not apply manure within 24 hours before rain is forecast or 24 hours after it rains.
2. Consider soil moisture and whether you are applying liquid or solid manure.
3. Use correct agronomic rates and setbacks.
4. Do not spread in a flood-prone area in the fall or winter. There is great potential for most of the manure to go downstream with flood waters.
Indiana prohibits manure application to frozen or snow-covered ground. If an IDEM-regulated CFO has a need to apply manure under those conditions, they need to get appropriate permission from IDEM.
Sneed notes that some older CFOs only have 120 days of storage capacity instead of 180 days of storage capacity. As a result, these farms run into situations that require manure application in the winter. Additionally, any CFO that needs to apply manure to snow-covered or frozen ground must call IDEM and fill out the necessary forms. CFOs may not apply to snow-covered or frozen ground until permission is granted by IDEM.
Manure application boils down to being a good neighbor, Sneed says.
"Always consider the environment and your neighbors—both are sensitive to your actions," he said. "No statute or rule keeps you from applying manure to a field that is next to your neighbor's house, but it is good practice to work with your neighbors when you can."
Just as it's a good practice to consider one's neighbors when applying manure to the ground, considering the potential environmental impact of manure is a good place to begin regardless of the season.
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