Ashland SWCD can help you get your poo together

Oh, how “the fresh country air” smells of summer are among us. Along with the smell comes the product.  Managing manure is one of the controversial topics of farming and one that is discussed on a regular basis. Whether you are on the applying side or the smelling side of the pile, it needs to be addressed with knowledge and safety.  A single horse can produce up to 50 pounds of waste per day, a beef cow can produce up to 92 pounds and a feeder pig can produce almost 10 pounds of manure per day. When you have multiple animals, that creates a lot of manure to find a home for. 

With 4H and FFA projects in full swing, these animals are in smaller facilities that might be putting the manure on the garden or composting. Knowing what your manure value is and how much needs to be on the pasture field or garden is crucial. Soil tests are important in this case. A soil test allows you to know what nutrient is missing or is abundant in your particular field or garden. With this test, you can then use your manure analysis results to know what and how much should be applied to your garden or field. When these tests are not used and you don’t have knowledge of what is being applied, there is a possibility that the nutrients are actually not being absorbed or could be more harmful than helpful.

We are here to help! Ashland SWCD does soil sampling and manure analysis samples. We can help you determine if you need more manure on the fields or if Grandma’s garden is going to be burnt out from the fair steers’ pen being constantly emptied onto it. There are other options to help store the manure. Short term stock piling is actually ok, but having it in a bad location, is not! When choosing where to put the pile or even the housing for the animals think about what is around, and how far water can flow. On average the minimum distance is 300 feet that it must be away from any flowing water and or stream and 1500 feet from public drinking water intakes. The consequences might not be visible at the present time of a bad location but the damage that is caused from it cannot be reversed. 

Ashland SWCD will be holding an “Oh Crap” farm field day on July 28th at 6pm. For any 4H or FFA member that attends will get a free t-shirt. For more information on soil testing, manure analysis or the field day, contact Erica White at 419-289-4828.