Wisconsin Ag Connection - Agencies Urge Farmers to Use Caution When Spreading Manure

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Agencies Urge Farmers to Use Caution When Spreading Manure
Wisconsin Ag Connection - 10/15/2014

Officials with the Wisconsin Departments of Natural Resources and Agriculture are encouraging farmers to plan ahead in case a late harvest and early freeze reduce the time they have to spread manure this fall. The agencies warn that field conditions in some parts of the state may parallel last year, which resulted in some producers having frozen fields after corn and soybeans were off. If cold weather arrives early again, that could mean frozen ground conditions and a higher risk for manure runoff.

The DNR says it is already in the process of contacting large farms with waste discharge permits to notify them of their options. Last year, the state unveiled its new online Manure Management Advisory System, which offers a runoff risk advisory forecast to assess how high the risk of runoff is for a general location before spreading manure. The tool uses weather forecasts of rain or melting snow, along with soil moisture, slope, land cover and snow cover.

Sara Walling, chief of the Nutrient Management and Water Quality Section at DATCP, says farmers can also use nutrient management maps included in the system to evaluate which of their own fields are the least or most prone to runoff.

"These are the times when it really is advantageous for farmers to have nutrient management plans in place," Walling said. "When you've developed a plan, you know the characteristics of your fields, where you can spread and when and how much. You often already have a relationship with a consultant who can advise you in these kinds of circumstances. It puts you that much ahead of the game."

Farmers without nutrient management plans are also encouraged to contact crop consultants or county conservationists, who can help identify fields and practices that lower risk for runoff.

Regardless of whether farmers have nutrient management in place, they need to have an emergency plan in case they have a runoff incident, the agencies say. Farmers also need to know what steps to take if runoff or a spill occurs, who to call, how to contain it and how to clean it up.

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