If field spreading of manure is necessary

Identify lower-risk fields for spreading or stacking manure:

  • Apply to your driest fields
  • Avoid sensitive areas of your fields.  For information on what options you have, see the MPCA Manure Management Plan
  • Use your Manure Management Plan or Nutrient Management Plan to find fields with:
    • low slope
    • low erosion, and
    • low delivery potential (low P-Index)
  • Apply to flatter fields without channelized flow, gullies
  • Apply to fields farthest from surface water, conduits to groundwater, and areas of concentrated flow
  • Apply to fields that do not drain to Outstanding, Exceptional, or nutrient impaired water bodies
No

The MPCA Manure Management Plan restrictions:

  • No nutrient spreading in the winter within 300 feet of lakes, streams, intermittent streams, public waters wetlands, drainage ditches without berms, and open tile intakes.
  • Do not spread during snowmelt that creates runoff or when rainfall over ¼ inch is expected within 24 hours.
  • Only spread liquid manure to slopes less than 2 percent and solid manure to slopes less than 6 percent.
  • Only spread manure where tillage is on the contour (if slopes are greater than 2 percent).
  • Make sure to apply liquids at rates that prevent runoff during the application process.
  • Find alternative fields or management where MPCA determines that water will be polluted if you do spread.
In winter, follow these additional restrictions, from MPCA Manure Management Plan

The MPCA Manure Management Plan restrictions:

  • No nutrient spreading in the winter within 300 feet of lakes, streams, intermittent streams, public waters wetlands, drainage ditches without berms, and open tile intakes.
  • Do not spread during snowmelt that creates runoff or when rainfall over ¼ inch is expected within 24 hours.
  • Only spread liquid manure to slopes less than 2 percent and solid manure to slopes less than 6 percent.
  • Only spread manure where tillage is on the contour (if slopes are greater than 2 percent).
  • Make sure to apply liquids at rates that prevent runoff during the application process.
  • Find alternative fields or management where MPCA determines that water will be polluted if you do spread.
No
  • Use neighboring or other available manure storage facilities
  • Create in-field stacking in areas that pose the least environmental runoff risk

For manure storing guidelines, see Natural Resources Conservation Service’s “Conservation Practice Standard Waste Storage Facility, Code 313.”

Identify lower-risk fields for spreading or stacking manure:

  • Apply to your driest fields
  • Avoid sensitive areas of your fields.  For information on what options you have, see the MPCA Manure Management Plan
  • Use your Manure Management Plan or Nutrient Management Plan to find fields with:
    • low slope
    • low erosion, and
    • low delivery potential (low P-Index)
  • Apply to flatter fields without channelized flow, gullies
  • Apply to fields farthest from surface water, conduits to groundwater, and areas of concentrated flow
  • Apply to fields that do not drain to Outstanding, Exceptional, or nutrient impaired water bodies

The MPCA Manure Management Plan restrictions:

  • No nutrient spreading in the winter within 300 feet of lakes, streams, intermittent streams, public waters wetlands, drainage ditches without berms, and open tile intakes.
  • Do not spread during snowmelt that creates runoff or when rainfall over ¼ inch is expected within 24 hours.
  • Only spread liquid manure to slopes less than 2 percent and solid manure to slopes less than 6 percent.
  • Only spread manure where tillage is on the contour (if slopes are greater than 2 percent).
  • Make sure to apply liquids at rates that prevent runoff during the application process.
  • Find alternative fields or management where MPCA determines that water will be polluted if you do spread.
  • 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
Environmental benefits
  • 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
No
  • 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
Practical benefits
  • 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
No
  • 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.
​​​​​​​Similar & related practices
  • 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.
No