Manure Testing Now Required Before Application

July 17, 2007

Starting this fall, in planning for crop year 2008, all livestock producers will be required to test each type of manure on their farms in order to be eligible for USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service programs. Steve Brinkman, NRCS nutrient management specialist, says the manure sampling requirement states all producers need to sample annually from each source of manure on their farm or operation. 

This requirement change impacts all livestock producers within the state. 

The new manure sampling requirement was brought about by changes to the NRCS Nutrient Management 590 standard. The Nutrient Management standard provides technical guidelines Iowa NRCS uses as it works with people who voluntarily manage nutrients on their land.  “This standard applies to producers that apply nutrients or soil amendments to the land to raise crops,” said Brinkman. “Now those crops can be corn, soybeans, hay or even pasture, but it’s managing the amount, source, placement, form and timing of nutrient soil amendments applications to the land.”

This new Nutrient Management 590 standard revision was in response to the revision of the NRCS national Nutrient Management 590 standard. The revision was reviewed and recommended for approval by the NRCS State Technical Committee, which advises Iowa NRCS on conservation issues. A group chaired by Dr. Gerald A. Miller, Iowa State University Professor of Agronomy and Associate Dean, and Rick Robinson, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation Environmental Policy Advisor, recommended the changes based on science and technology developed at Iowa State University. The NRCS State Technical Committee recommended approval the changes to the standards because the changes will help to minimize non-point source pollution of surface and ground water and to protect air quality. 

In the past, “book values” could be used in place of analyzing individual manure samples, according to Brinkman. These “book values” were found to be out of date and inaccurate.  Species, animal age, feed rations, water use, bedding types, management and other factors make every farm’s manure different. Because every livestock production and manure management system is unique, it was decided the best way to assess manure nutrients is by sampling and analyzing the manure in a laboratory, he said.  

“In the long run,” Brinkman says, “manure testing, coupled with soil testing and good management planning and implementation could reduce input costs and make improvements in water quality. It will help manure to be recognized as a credible nutrient resource. Used as part of a Comprehensive Nutrient Management System, its careful application could benefit both the environment and farmers’ bottom lines.” 

For more information on the NRCS Nutrient Management 590 standard, please contact your local NRCS office. On the web: www.ia.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/nutrientmanagementtools.html.

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Contact:
Dick Tremain, Public Affairs Specialist
Phone: 515-323-2736

Steve Brinkman, Nutrient Management Specialist
Phone: 515-323-2243

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