Liquid Manure: How Much is Too Much?

US - There is a limit on liquid manure or open lot effluent that can be land applied to fields that will be planted to soybeans next spring.
calendar icon 27 November 2008
clock icon 1 minute read

The limit is 100 pounds of nitrogen, or N, per acre and it applies to liquid manure or runoff containing manure from both open feedlots and animal confinements. The restriction applies only to liquid manure. If no liquid manure is applied, then commercial fertilizer application would not be limited.

“If they are using manure, producers who plan on planting soybeans next year should not apply more than 100 pounds of N, including manure and commercial fertilizer,” said Gene Tinker, the DNR animal feeding operations coordinator.

Tinker added that there has been some confusion about this new rule. “The limit applies only to fields where soybeans are planned as the next crop,” he said. “It does not apply to land where soybeans have just been harvested and corn is planned for next spring.”

The limit went into effect in May 2008.

Producers also should follow long-standing rules for land application. Generally, those include applying manure at agronomic rates and observing separation distances from environmentally sensitive areas. Those required to have a manure or nutrient management plan must follow it. And, commercial and confinement site manure applicators must be certified.

Further Reading

- You can find out more information on manure application by clicking here.

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