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Now is the Time to Plan for Spreading Manure in the Winter

Dec 04, 2017
By Christina Curell,
 
Manure spreading in the winter is a practice that many Michigan farmers have to make. Farms that have a comprehensive nutrient management plan (CNMP) or a nutrient management plan (NMP) have already considered and decided where their winter nutrients are going to be utilized. Those farms that do not have a written plan need to carefully consider where they are going to spread. Here are some points that farms need to consider before they spread manure this winter.
  • Have up-to-date sample information for both the manure being used and the soil.
  • Correlate the amount of manure that is being spread on the field with the field’s soil sample.
  •  Choose fields that have low run-off potential.
  • Map the fields maintaining buffers around surface waters and other sensitive areas. Do not forget drainage tile lines.
  •  Understand available tools that will help determine if it is appropriate to spread on a given day, check out this article by Shelby Burlew for more information on a tool that is available for Michigan farmers.