 |
|
| May 11, 2009 |
A Penton Media, Inc Publication
|
| |
|
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
|
|
|
A wet spring in parts of the Midwest is causing some manure
application challenges, according to Tamilee Nennich, Purdue Extension
nutrient management specialist. "It's important for the manure to stay
on the field," Nennich says. "We do not want nutrients to run off the
fields or leach through the soil, especially when there are tile lines.
We want to conserve those nutrients and keep them on the field. It's
especially important to not apply manure to saturated soils or if you
know a rainfall is coming."
Nennich offers six tips to help manure applicators avoid application
dilemmas. First, she urges applicators to pay attention to setbacks and
buffer distances. Nennich recommends marking the actual distance with
colored flags. "What looks like 50 ft. on the seat of a tractor may not
actually be 50 ft.," she says.
Next, applicators should apply manure to fields according to calculated
rates. Do not over apply. "When calculating the application rate, take
into account any applications done last fall, including manure or
inorganic fertilizer. Nitrogen credits from legumes also should be taken
into account."
Do not apply manure to saturated or wet fields to help avoid runoff or
manure entering tile lines. "Significant compaction can occur with heavy
application equipment, which can result in reduced yield," Nennich
states. "
Be mindful of wind speed and direction and how they may impact
neighbors during application. Keep neighbor relations in mind. "It's the
time of year for graduation parties, family reunions and outdoor
gatherings," she notes. "Try to work with your neighbor and avoid
applying around the area where the event will be held. It also helps to
explain why it's necessary to apply manure and that you have a short
window of time to get the job done before planting. This may not always
work, but it certainly helps."
Application equipment should be repaired and upgraded on a regular basis
to minimize the chance of a leak or breakdown. Nennich points out that
special attention should be given to joints and connection points to
make sure they are fitted and secure. Applicators should check and
monitor equipment, including hoses, pipes, pumps and connectors, at
least once daily during application to detect any leaks or
malfunctioning equipment.
Keep accurate records. The Indiana Department of Environmental
Management requires the date of application, acreage applied to and
field location, application method used, and the source of manure
applied all be recorded. Actual nitrogen and phosphorous rates should
also be recorded for each field.
The ultimate goal is to make sure manure is applied at the correct
agronomic rate at the right location and at the right time to conserve
nutrients and keep them on the field, which is better for both the
environment and the pocketbook, Nennich says.
Purdue University offers nutrient management record-keeping calendars.
Contact Nennich at 765-494-4823 or tnennich@purdue.edu for more
information about ordering calendars, or for additional information.
She says additional resources include the Purdue Animal Manure Solutions
Web site at www.agriculture.purdue.edu/PAMS/;
a publication entitled, "Animal Manure as a Plant Nutrient Resource,"
www.ces.purdue.edu/extmedia/ID/ID-308.pdf;
Manure Management Planner software, www.agry.purdue.edu/mmp/; and
"Land Application Records and Sampling," www.ces.purdue.edu/extmedia/ID/ID-300.pdf.
|
Now’s the Time to incorporate a Slurrystore System into your nutrient
management program. Slurrystore is compatible for any system whether
your goal is long term storage, nutrient retention, green containment,
digesters or manure processing. Plus Slurrystore Systems include the
added feature of agitation to help ensure nutrient consistency. Click here or contact your local
Authorized Slurrystore Dealer for more information.
|
|
|
A recently released USDA Economic Research Service (ERS) report uses
data from two national pork producer surveys to take a close look at how
manure management practices have evolved over time. The report examines
changes taking place from 1998 through 2004. The ERS researchers note
the effects of structural changes in the industry, recent policies on
manure management technologies and practices and the use of nutrient
management plans and attention to manure application rates.
Increased farm size and regional shifts in production have influenced
manure management practices. Additional influencing factors include
changes to the Clean Water Act and state regulations, as well as more
local conflicts over odor and air quality issues.
The findings suggest that larger hog operations are altering their
manure management decisions in response to binding nutrient application
constraints, and that environmental policy is contributing to the
adoption of conservation-compatible manure management practices.
Read the report online at www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/EIB50/.
|
|
|
John Lory, University of Missouri, answered a recent question posed
on the Extension website regarding how much energy swine manure is
capable of generating. He says most references based on bomb calorimeter
studies of manure indicate swine manure can generate about 7,500 btu/lb.
of manure dry matter. He notes this value is similar to the energy in
raw feedstuffs. Lory goes on to explain that one finishing pig will
consume about 600 lb. of feed. The energy content of the feed is about 5
million btu. The pig will excrete about 150 lb. of manure dry matter.
Energy content of the manure is about 1 million btu.
Lory notes the water in manure must be vaporized before the manure will
burn. About 1,000 btu of energy are required to vaporize 1 lb. of water.
The energy in 1 lb. of manure dry matter can vaporize about 7.5 lb. of
water. This suggests a “break-even” moisture content of 88% on a wet
basis. Most manures have an “as-excreted” moisture content in this
range, he says. Lory’s answer was based on presentation by Charles
Fulhage, a former faculty member at University of Missouri.
|
Are you getting optimum value from your ag nutrients? Ensure an even
nutrient blend and consistency with every load using a Slurrystore® and
its center agitation system. There’s no better choice for long term
ag nutrient storage. Now’s the Time for Slurrystore. Click here or contact your local
Authorized Slurrystore Dealer for more information.
|
|
|
|
Iowa State University reports that after June 30, 2009, the Iowa
Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is going to discontinue sending
reminder letters to livestock producers 45 days before their manure
management plans (MMP) are due. Producers will receive a final reminder
letter to producers prior to June 30. That letter will notify producers
when their complete MMP based on the phosphorus (P) index will be due.
Producers can check for the MMP due date on the IDNR web site at www.iowadnr.gov/afo/mmp_dates.html.
Learn more at the IDNR web site at www.iowadnr.gov/afo/mmp.html.
|
|
|
USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA) will offer certain producers the
opportunity to modify and extend their Conservation Reserve Program
(CRP) contracts that are scheduled to expire on Sept. 30, 2009. This
extension will ensure that FSA meets the statutory CRP acreage
limitation of 32 million acres established in the Food, Conservation,
and Energy Act of 2008. USDA can only extend approximately 1.5 million
acres out of a total 3.9 million acres expiring this year.
A general CRP signup is not scheduled during fiscal year 2009. However,
producers may continue to enroll relatively small, highly-desirable
acreages, including land that is not extended, into Continuous CRP.
Continuous CRP includes such practices as filter strips and riparian
buffers.
FSA will notify participants by letter beginning May 6, 2009. The
sign-up for this voluntary extension will begin on May 18 and run
through June 30, 2009. Farmers and ranchers may apply for this extension
at their FSA county office. CRP contracts with the highest environmental
benefit or with the highest potential for soil erosion will be selected.
CRP contracts cannot exceed 15 years in the aggregate and chosen CRP
contract holders will generally be offered a three- to five-year
extension.
Producers electing to extend their contract period will receive their
current contract rental rate. All or a portion of the acreage under
contract may be included in an extension, but no new acreage may be
added.
For more information about CRP and other FSA programs, visit your county
FSA office or learn more at www.fsa.usda.gov .
|
|
|
A USDA Agricultural Research Service chemist recently explored the
differences in specific nutrient contents between conventional and
organic dairy manures from commercial dairy farms. Zhongqui He worked
with colleagues at the ARS New England Plant, Soil and Water Laboratory
in Orono, ME. He looked at differences in phosphorus, metal and mineral
contents in manure from the different production systems. The two types
of manure (organic vs. non-organic) had at least 17 different chemical
forms of phosphorus that varied in concentration. The organic dairy
manure in this particular study had higher levels of phosphorus,
calcium, potassium, manganese, zinc and magnesium. Organic dairy manure
also contained more types of phosphorus found in association with
calcium and magnesium.
Read more about the research at www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2009/090422.htm.
|
|
|
USDA recently announced that $50 million will be available for a new
initiative to encourage more organic agriculture production. Funding for
the initiative is being made available as part of the Environmental
Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). The 2009 Organic Initiative is a
nationwide special program to provide financial assistance to National
Organic Program (NOP) certified organic producers as well as producers
in the process of transitioning to organic production. Organic producers
may also apply for assistance under general EQIP.
Nutrient management is among the minimum core conservation practices
that will be required. States are directed to consider using any
appropriate practice that meets the resource concern on a particular
operation.
Applications received from organic producers or producers in transition
to organic farming will be accepted under this initiative between May 11
and May 29. Applications will be ranked at that time.
The 2009 Organic Initiative will be administered by the Natural
Resources Conservation Service. Interested producers should visit the
nearest USDA Service Center to determine eligibility. Additional
information on the 2009 EQIP Organic Initiative is available at:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/eqip/ .
|
|
|
A June 3 World Pork Expo seminar will explore the environmental and
economic benefits that may result from capturing swine manure methane.
The seminar will take place from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the Iowa State
Fairgrounds in Des Moines.
Speakers will cover financial resources available for digesters through
USDA and the Farm Bill, an overview of digesters and the pork industry,
and a producer perspective on how a manure digester has been used on a
Nebraska hog farm.
The World Pork Expo seminar schedule is available online at www.worldpork.org.
|
eHay Weekly is a weekly compilation of prices and marketing
information for commercial hay growers. Updates include local market
conditions, state and regional hay association news, hay prices from
around the nation, and links to USDA weekly hay reports. eHay Weekly is
brought to you from the editors of Hay & Forage Grower.
|
|
|
The 2009 Upper Midwest Manure Handling Expo will be held at the
Central Iowa Expo Center in Boone, IA on July 22, 2009. The theme for
the meeting is “SET for Fall: Safety, Efficiency, and Technology.”
Visitors and vendors will have a chance to interact and discuss manure
handling equipment, products and services. The Expo will also offer
educational opportunities.
Learn more about the Midwest Manure Handling Expo online at www.ucs.iastate.edu/mnet/2009ummhe/home.html.
For additional information email agwaste@iastate.edu.
|
 NHF Weekly Preview provides pork
producers in the United States and Canada with weekly analysis of items
that will impact their business. NHF Weekly Preview is brought to
you from the editors of National Hog Farmer.
|
|
|
The Texas Animal Manure Management Issues Conference will be held
Sept. 29-30 at the Austin Marriott North in Round Rock, TX. Conference
topics include manure nutrients, water and air quality, animal feeding
operation-siting, manure management systems, bioenergy and value-added
products. Presentations will also highlight lessons learned from
Hurricane Ike on the disposal of catastrophic animal mortalities.
Learn more about the program at grovesite.com/page.asp?o=tamu&s=TAMMI&p=353016.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Send Comments & Questions To
Dale Miller, Editor,
National Hog Farmer
To unsubscribe from this newsletter go to: Unsubscribe
To subscribe to this newsletter, go to: Subscribe
You are subscribed to this newsletter as #email#
To get this newsletter in a different format (Text or HTML),
or to change your e-mail address, please visit your profile
page to change your delivery preferences.
For questions concerning delivery of this newsletter, please contact our
Customer Service Department at:
National Hog Farmer
A Penton Media publication
US Toll Free: 866-505-7173
International: 847-763-9504
Email:nationalhogfarmer@pbinews.com
Penton Media, Inc. | 1166 Avenue of the Americas, 10th Floor | New York, NY 10036
Copyright 2013, Penton Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This article is
protected
by United States copyright and other intellectual property laws and may
not be reproduced, rewritten, distributed, re-disseminated, transmitted,
displayed, published or broadcast, directly or indirectly, in any medium
without the prior written permission of Penton Media.
|
|
