Manure Management National Perspective

1
Manure Management National Perspective

• Roberta Parry
• Office of Water, Water Policy Staff
• December 8, 2004

2
Myriad Manure Management Methods

• Production Area
• Minimize manure production
• Handle manure as dry as possible
• Feed only nutrient levels required
• Proper storage
• Proper operation and maintenance
• Clean water diversions

3
Myriad Manure Management Methods

• Land Application Area
• Nutrient management planning
• Rate
• Timing
• Application method
• Buffers
• Control soil erosion

4
Most Effective Strategy?

• It is a balance
• Animal type
• Waste collection system
• Economics
• Available labor
• Available land
• Climate
• Existing equipment
• Pollutant of concern
• Ability to determine compliance
• Over 160 NRCS Conservation Practice Standards

5
What is the most effective combination?

• For the inspector, that may not be the right
  question.
• Too many combinations/permutations to adequately
  assess.
• Big variables in any plan
• Manure test
• Application equipment
• Application method
• Assess basic adequacy of plan
• Soil/manure tests
• Enough land for nitrogen and phosphorus in manure
  produced
• Assess visible practices
• Buffers, residue management, fencing

6
Making Progress on Manure Management

• For the educator/consultant, progress can be made
  in discrete areas.
• Encouraging basic landscape practices
• Encouraging manure/soil testing
• Feed management
• For the policy maker
• Reformulating feed
• Providing decision-making tools
• Developing incentives for AFO producers to
  implement existing practices

7
Limits to most effective manure management

• Producers often dont control many aspects of
  waste production, handling, fate and transport

• Contract with integrators
• Feed
• Feed mills
• On-farm crops

• Climate
• Topography
• Availability of land, labor
• Drainage tiles

8
Watershed Solutions

• Constructed wetlands
• Drainage districts
• Integrators
• Packing plants
• Manure brokers
• Transport out of watershed