- Reduces or eliminates the need to purchase commercial fertilizer for crops
- May improve crop use of nitrogen relative to commercial fertilizers; the nitrogen in manure is more stable, releasing slowly as soils warm and crops grow
- Improves soil productivity through increased water-holding capacity and greater nutrient availability and retention
- Aids compliance with Minnesota regulations on manure application
- Well managed manure can be used in a methane digester to produce energy, and control odors and methane emissions
- Reduces or eliminates the need to purchase commercial fertilizer for crops
- May improve crop use of nitrogen relative to commercial fertilizers; the nitrogen in manure is more stable, releasing slowly as soils warm and crops grow
- Improves soil productivity through increased water-holding capacity and greater nutrient availability and retention
- Aids compliance with Minnesota regulations on manure application
- Well managed manure can be used in a methane digester to produce energy, and control odors and methane emissions
- Manure management is often integral to crop nutrient management, comprehensive nutrient management planning, feedlot/barnyard runoff controls, rotational grazing and manure digesters.
- Manure management often involves manure storage, manure storage covers and composting. Another related practice is manure storage abandonment.
- Manure management is often an important component of drinking water protection in agricultural areas.
- Manure management is often integral to crop nutrient management, comprehensive nutrient management planning, feedlot/barnyard runoff controls, rotational grazing and manure digesters.
- Manure management often involves manure storage, manure storage covers and composting. Another related practice is manure storage abandonment.
- Manure management is often an important component of drinking water protection in agricultural areas.
- Improves soil quality and promotes carbon sequestration by building or maintaining soil organic matter
- Protects surface water quality by reducing nutrient and sediment runoff (the organic matter in manure creates an open soil structure that stabilizes nutrients and lets water in more easily, reducing runoff)
- Also protects surface water quality through manure application methods that prevent pathogens, nutrients and organic matter from entering waterways
- May reduce the risk of groundwater contamination from nitrogen leaching compared to commercial fertilizers, as the nitrogen in manure is more stable and more easily utilized by crops
- Reduces the risk of drinking water contamination by ensuring appropriate setbacks when applying manure near wells or in vulnerable drinking water supply management areas
- Helps protect air quality by controlling odors from manure
- Conserves energy compared to manufacturing, mining, processing and transporting of commercial fertilizers
- Reduces or eliminates the need to purchase commercial fertilizer for crops
- May improve crop use of nitrogen relative to commercial fertilizers; the nitrogen in manure is more stable, releasing slowly as soils warm and crops grow
- Improves soil productivity through increased water-holding capacity and greater nutrient availability and retention
- Aids compliance with Minnesota regulations on manure application
- Well managed manure can be used in a methane digester to produce energy, and control odors and methane emissions
- Manure management is often integral to crop nutrient management, comprehensive nutrient management planning, feedlot/barnyard runoff controls, rotational grazing and manure digesters.
- Manure management often involves manure storage, manure storage covers and composting. Another related practice is manure storage abandonment.
- Manure management is often an important component of drinking water protection in agricultural areas.
The Stream Power Index (SPI) is a measure of the erosive power of flowing water and can help identify areas on the landscape where concentrated flow and gully erosion are more likely to occur. The SPI is a function of both slope and contributing area. High SPI values indicate areas with large drainage areas and steeper slopes.
Why should farmers and landowners care about the SPI?
Think of high SPI values like conveyer belts that can transport sediment, nutrients/manure and pesticides off fields during snowmelt or heavy rainfall events. Installing grassed waterways, edge of field prairie strips or other conservation practices in areas with high SPI values can help reduce this risk. It may not be practical to address all SPI areas on your farm, so prioritize based on color (darker orange areas) and proximity to streams.
Details about these Data
The SPI for the Root River Watershed was created using a non-hydro conditioned 3-meter resolution digital elevation model from a 2008 LiDAR flight. Data were filtered to only show the 85th percentile and above values. These data are currently only available for the Root River Watershed with plans to expand to other areas when they become available.
Note: High SPI values in flatter landscapes found in Mower and Dodge County may not always appear. SPI values do not factor in existing conservation practices.
The SPI for the Root River Watershed was done in connection with the Root River Field to Stream Partnership
The Stream Power Index (SPI) is a measure of the erosive power of flowing water and can help identify areas on the landscape where concentrated flow and gully erosion are more likely to occur. The SPI is a function of both slope and contributing area. High SPI values indicate areas with large drainage areas and steeper slopes.
Why should farmers and landowners care about the SPI?
Think of high SPI values like conveyer belts that can transport sediment, nutrients/manure and pesticides off fields during snowmelt or heavy rainfall events. Installing grassed waterways, edge of field prairie strips or other conservation practices in areas with high SPI values can help reduce this risk. It may not be practical to address all SPI areas on your farm, so prioritize based on color (darker orange areas) and proximity to streams.
Details about these Data
The SPI for the Root River Watershed was created using a non-hydro conditioned 3-meter resolution digital elevation model from a 2008 LiDAR flight. Data were filtered to only show the 85th percentile and above values. These data are currently only available for the Root River Watershed with plans to expand to other areas when they become available.
Note: High SPI values in flatter landscapes found in Mower and Dodge County may not always appear. SPI values do not factor in existing conservation practices.
The SPI for the Root River Watershed was done in connection with the Root River Field to Stream Partnership
Minnesota may register a new end use product for any use, or an additional use of a federally registered pesticide product, if the Commissioner determines that:
- The pesticide's composition warrants the proposed claims for the pesticide;
- The pesticide's label and other material required to be submitted comply with this chapter;
- The pesticide will perform its intended function without unreasonable adverse effect on the environment;
- The pesticide will not generally cause unreasonable adverse effects on the environment when used in accordance with label directions; and
- A special local need for the pesticide exists.
Minnesota may register a new end use product for any use, or an additional use of a federally registered pesticide product, if the Commissioner determines that:
- The pesticide's composition warrants the proposed claims for the pesticide;
- The pesticide's label and other material required to be submitted comply with this chapter;
- The pesticide will perform its intended function without unreasonable adverse effect on the environment;
- The pesticide will not generally cause unreasonable adverse effects on the environment when used in accordance with label directions; and
- A special local need for the pesticide exists.
