Released October 6, 2009
MADISON – Wisconsin agriculture and natural resource officials are urging livestock producers to take steps now to properly manage manure in coming months and to avoid taking short cuts.
Reports that financially-stressed farmers may be delaying emptying their storage structures as a cost-saving measure are stirring concerns of an increased risk of manure spills and other problems later.
“Producers are struggling as it is – they don’t need the additional stress, cost and labor that can come from having a manure spill, an overtopped storage structure or runoff into lakes and streams,” says Rod Nilsestuen, who leads the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.
“We urge all producers to make sure they are taking the steps now and before winter to properly manage manure and avoid problems later.”
The state agriculture department is joining with the Department of Natural Resources, the University of Wisconsin-Extension, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Professional Nutrient Applicators Association of Wisconsin (PNAAW) to reach producers with an important reminder of the necessary steps and information about available technical and financial help to manage manure. More information can be found on the Runoff management pages of the DNR Web site, http://dnr.wi.gov/runoff/ag/manure.html.
“Properly managing manure is a critical part of a well-run farm,” says DNR Secretary Matt Frank. “And farmers play a critical part in helping Wisconsin protect public health and our waters.”
Almost half of Wisconsin’s dairy producers use storage and liquid manure spreading systems to efficiently handle and manage manure. The cost of agitating, hauling, and incorporating manure into farm fields runs from $100 to $250 per cow per year; with Wisconsin farms averaging 87 cows, the total could run $8,700 to more than $21,000 a year, according to Kevin Erb, UW-Extension’s advisor to PNAAW.
Reports from manure haulers, producers themselves, and county agriculture agents suggest that producers, stressed by low prices, tightened credit, and fluctuating feed, fertilizer and other costs, may not be asking their bankers for money to cover the costs of properly handling and spreading the manure produced on their farm, he says.
“We’ve heard that some farmers may be delaying manure applications that would normally be going out in early fall on wheat and silage fields,” Erb says. Delaying manure applications now will increase the likelihood of overflowing manure storage that will trigger a lot of extra work and cost for them, he says.
“We have only a limited amount of time when we can safely apply manure – and we can’t control the weather to extend the window,” Erb says. “If the manure storage is not completely emptied in the fall, farmers may face the difficult choice of letting it overflow in spring or spreading on fields at one of the highest risk times of the year.” Both options could result in fish kills, contaminated drinking wells, fines and upset neighbors.
Pat Leavenworth, NRCS State Conservationist for Wisconsin, says that farmers should take four key steps in coming weeks and months, and can tap into state and federal programs to get help for some.
- Empty your manure storage. Maximize storage capacity for winter by emptying storage facilities and properly applying manure.
- Plant fall cover crops. Reduce nutrient losses from fall applications by planting a cover crop that can make use of the nitrogen in manure and reduce erosion.
- Develop a nutrient management plan. Make wise use of nutrients and reduce risks by tapping into technical help and resources to prepare a plan.
- Develop a winter spreading plan. For farms with limited or no storage, work with your local conservation staff or professional agronomist to help identify fields with a lower risk of runoff.
For more technical or program information on manure management or winter spreading plans, call your local NRCS office or county land conservation office, Leavenworth says.
More information on manure runoff, the prevention campaign, and efforts to find new ways to manage manure can be found in the Manure Runoff media kit pages of the DNR Web site, http://dnr.wi.gov/news/mediakits/mk_manure_runoff.asp.
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http://www.dnr.wi.gov/news/DNRNews_article_Lookup.asp?id=1216
Contacts: Gordon Stevenson, DNR, (608) 267-2759
Jim VandenBrook, DATCP (608) 224-4501
Kevin Erb, UWEX (920) 391-4652
Renae Anderson, NRCS, (608) 662-4422 ext. 227
Ryan DeBroux, Nutrient Applicators Association, (920) 655-4517
