The weather’s getting colder, and that means your options for spreading manure are shrinking.

In Delaware, Maine, Maryland and Vermont, winter manure spreading isn’t allowed. Maine’s winter manure ban has already gone into effect.

Other states, like Pennsylvania, have rules farmers must follow before spreading in winter. Ohio bans winter manure spreading in areas designated as a “watershed in distress.”

Here are the winter manure spreading guidelines for several states in the region gleaned from state regulations and nutrient management websites. As always, if something is unique about your region that must be clarified, please contact us:

Connecticut. No winter ban, though it is not recommended on frozen or snow-covered ground.

Delaware. The winter manure ban is in effect from Dec. 7 to Feb. 15. Application outside those dates is prohibited on frozen or snow-covered ground. More information can be found at regulations.delaware.gov.

Maine. The winter manure ban is in effect from Dec. 1 to March 15. Upon application to the commissioner, the commissioner may grant a variance to allow a person to spread manure during the winter due to financial hardship or other circumstances that necessitate the application. In granting a variance, the commissioner shall impose restrictions to minimize potential environmental degradation and prescribe actions to ensure future compliance. Read more at legislature.maine.gov

Maryland. The winter manure ban is in effect from Dec. 15 to March 1. Spreading can begin in the spring on March 1. Farmers who generate nonstackable manure from animals on their own farm and run short of liquid storage before March 1 must contact the Nutrient Management Program to request emergency spreading permission.

Temporary field stockpiling of stackable manure is allowed so long as the moisture content is 60% or less. Farmers with questions should contact the Nutrient Management Program at 410-841-5959 or visit mda.maryland.gov.

Massachusetts. No winter manure ban, though there are limitations:

For more information, go to mass.gov.

Michigan. No winter manure ban, but the following guidelines should be followed:

In either situation, provisions must be made to control runoff and erosion with soil and water conservation practices, such as vegetative buffer strips between surface waters and soils where manure is applied.

Winter manure application rules have changed for concentrated animal feeding operations. CAFO waste should not be applied during January, February or March unless the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is notified, along with these stipulations:

New Hampshire. No winter ban, though application is not recommended on frozen or snow-covered ground.

New Jersey. No winter ban.

New York. No winter ban, but the following rules apply:

For more information, visit Cornell University.

Ohio. No statewide winter ban exists, though there are exceptions depending on where you farm. In the Western Lake Erie Basin, you can’t surface-apply manure under the following conditions:

These restrictions don’t apply if manure is injected into the ground, if manure is incorporated within 24 hours of surface application, or if manure is applied onto a growing crop. Also, the director of agriculture can provide written consent in the case of an emergency.

If you farm in a designated a “watershed in distress,” you can’t apply manure between Dec. 15 and March 1, and you can’t apply manure on frozen ground or ground covered with more than 1 inch of snow.For more information, go to the Ohio Department of Agriculture.

Pennsylvania. Winter manure spreading is allowed, but a field must have greater than 25% crop residue or a cover crop growing. According to Penn State Extension, winter is defined as any of the following three conditions:

Here are some do’s and don’ts on winter manure spreading from Penn State:

For more information about writing a Manure Management Plan, see the online course or visit the Nutrient Management Education Program.

Vermont. Winter manure ban in effect from Dec. 15 to April 1. The secretary of agriculture may prohibit the application of land-applied manure following adequate notice to the ag community between Dec. 1-15 and April 1-30 if the department determines that, due to weather conditions, soil conditions or other limitations, manure applications would pose a significant potential of runoff to waters of the state.

Manure stacking of solid manure is an option. The Required Agricultural Practices outline specific standards and setbacks for manure stacking, such as 200 feet from the top of a bank of surface water or a public or private water supply, and 100 feet from any ditch or property boundary. If you need assistance in finding an appropriate site for manure stacking, call the agency of agriculture at 802-828-1702.

Exemptions may be considered for emergency situations only, such as structural failure of a waste storage facility. If a farmer anticipates having an issue before or during the ban, contact Nate Sands at 802-224-6850.