Manure spreading in the winter is a practice that many Michigan farmers have to contend with.

Farms that have a nutrient management plan have already decided where their winter nutrients are going to be used. Those farms that do not have a written plan need to carefully consider where they are going to spread the manure. Here are some points that farms need to consider:

• 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

To learn more about spreading manure in the winter in Michigan, see Manure Management — Spreading on Frozen and Snow Covered Ground.

Source: MSU