Winter manure spreading can be a tricky issue depending on where you farm.

In the Northeast, some states ban winter manure spreading, while others allow it but have specific rules to follow.

Bottom line, it’s not recommended to spread manure — liquid or solid — on frozen or snow-covered ground, but having the flexibility to land-apply manure in winter is critical for some operators.

We contacted each state in the American Agriculturist region for updated winter manure regulations. Here’s what we found:

Connecticut

There is no winter ban, although it is not recommended on frozen or snow-covered ground.

Delaware

The winter manure spreading ban went into effect Dec. 7 and lasts until Feb. 15, or if the surface area is covered by snow or is frozen. Any outdoor storage of manure within the production areas, or staging within the application area, must be the result of exhausting manure storage structure space.

Any outdoor stockpiling of poultry manure within the production area, or any area other than the application area, will be limited to 14 days without a cover, and any outdoor temporary field staging of poultry manure within the application area will be limited to 120 days.

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 because of 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 ban on spreading manure and other nutrients, including food processing residuals, goes into effect from Dec. 16 to March 1. Farmers may resume spreading March 1 based on their nutrient management plan recommendations, and if fields are not saturated, snow-covered or hard-frozen. 

Liquid manure must be stored in structures. The Maryland Department of Agriculture is authorized to work with farmers to prevent overflows from storage structures and minimize impacts on water quality. In these instances, farmers must contact the Nutrient Management Program for emergency authorization before any spreading occurs. 

Temporary field stockpiling of “stackable” poultry litter and other qualifying organic nutrient sources is allowed if the moisture content is 60% or less. Stackable organic nutrient sources may not be applied to fields in winter under any conditions. 

Massachusetts

There is no winter manure ban, although there are limitations:

For more information, visit bit.ly/2KGEX6L.

Michigan

There is 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.

Concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) are banned from winter-applying manure for the first three months of the year, unless the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is notified and along with these stipulations:

New Hampshire

There is no winter ban, although it is not recommended on frozen or snow-covered ground.

New Jersey

No winter ban.

New York

There is no winter ban, but the following rules apply:

For more information, visit bit.ly/3nVUttL.

Ohio

There is no statewide winter ban, but 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 “watershed in distress,” such as the Grand Lake St. Marys watershed, anyone producing, applying or receiving in excess of 100,000 gallons of manure a year shall develop and operate in conformance with a nutrient management plan.

In addition, 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.

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 guidelines on winter manure spreading from Penn State:

Vermont

A 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 from Dec. 1-15 and April 1-30 if the department determines that, because of 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 (RAPs) 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, call Nate Sands at 802-224-6850.