Manure Management Tips For Small Herds

Manure Management Tips For Small Herds MANURE HANDLING Miscellaneous Big livestock operations get the headlines when they have problems managing their manure but even small herds can have problems Mary Keena an Extension Specialist at North Dakota State University deals with both sizes of operations All too often notes Kenna manure management is an afterthought with small herds “With smaller operations people get it all set up for animals whether for meat milk or recreation and only when they have them do they realize they produce manure and a lot of it ” says Keena “Often smaller operations are close to city limits or in sensitive areas whether with neighbors or environmentally ” Keena and Sarah Fronczak Michigan State University Extension environmental management educator addressed key elements of manure management for small farms in the May/June issue of Manure Manager Keena revisited some with FARM SHOW She described people asking her what to do with the manure after purchasing animals Keena advises people to check with local regulatory agencies about manure management before bringing animals home Regulations can vary from state to state and by the size of the operation “Call your extension agent to verify who you need to talk to and what regulations are involved ” says Keena “Make manure management and storage part of the planning process ” Doing so before you invest in animals and facilities can prevent problems down the road “You may need someone to come in and clean out barns or pens periodically ” she says “If so you need to be set up for that ” If manure management is going to be a DIY project access is still important as is appropriate equipment Equally important is budgeting time to manage the manure and having sufficient land to spread it Manure storage is likely necessary even if only a few animals are involved While the quantity produced may allow it to be spread only once every few years storing it requires paying attention to likely weather conditions before assigning a storage location “Where does snow accumulate?” asks Keena “Where does water settle?” She recommends an impermeable base to protect groundwater and surface water Fronczak recommends three-sided storage with a roof if possible Keena adds that smaller operations may want to consider composting their manure instead of spreading raw manure on fields or pastures If a custom operator is used to remove the manure composting it first can reduce costs considerably “Composting will reduce the volume by 50 percent and kill flies and other parasites ” says Keena Keena authored a guide on properly composting manure which is available on the NDSU website If you plan to compost you must have sufficient space to turn the manure If an animal owner has more manure than they can use whether composted or not there may be a market for it Keena argues that it’s a valuable commodity She suggests checking with neighbors and produce growers Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Mary Keena Extension Specialist Carrington Research Extension Center North Dakota State University P O Box 219 Carrington N D 58421 ph 701-652-2951; mary keena@ndsu edu; www ndsu edu

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