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Water Quality Guide >Animal Waste Management
Animal Waste Management
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Manure contains high concentrations of
bacteria, nutrients and organic matter. These are pollutants when they enter water
systems. Good farm management keeps manure away from surface water and groundwater and
uses it as an effective fertilizer.
Manure Storage
- Locate barnyards, stockyards, feeding and watering areas well away from surface waters,
to prevent runoff from reaching them. Your conservation district can help you plan.
- Collect manure regularly during periods of confinement.
- Cover stored manure to keep rainwater from seeping through it. Divert roof runoff from
the storage area with gutters and downspouts.
Manure Utilization
- Apply manure evenly as a fertilizer to pastures, fields and gardens.
- Apply only as much as your crop or pasture can use. Excess manure will wash off into
surface waters or leach into groundwater systems. Your conservation district
representative or cooperative extension agent will have information.
- Till manure evenly into soil whenever possible to maximize nutrient use and minimize
runoff.
- Do not apply when soils are frozen or saturated, or when plants will not use the
nutrients.
- Leave an adequate buffer strip between manure application sites and surface waters. Your
conservation district can advise you on the appropriate width according to the soils, type
vegetation, and the slope.
- Test soil to determine how much manure to apply.
For information and help: Contact your conservation district, county cooperative
extension agent and the state Department of Fish and Wildlife.
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