Author: Richard Meinert, Extension Educator, University of Connecticut
A manure storage is needed to store manure during periods of the year when manure should not be applied to crop fields. Without a manure storage, manure needs to be removed from livestock housing facilities and moved to crop fields on a regular basis?daily, weekly, monthly, etc. Field conditions may not be suitable for spreading manure at the time manure is removed from the facility. Rainfall may have left the field too wet to drive through without causing compaction. During winter months, the field may be frozen, causing excessive nutrient loss from runoff during spring thaw.
A manure storage provides flexibility for the operator to spread manure when field conditions are favorable and at a time when the crop can maximize use of the nutrients and minimize any loss of nutrients to the environment.
For more information on timing manure applications, go to Livestock and Poultry Environmental Stewardship (LPES) Curriculum Lession 34 at Land Application Best Management Practices.
