Swine Manure Testing Project
The Upper Wabash Nutrient Management Coalition is working with the Grand Lake/Wabash Watershed Alliance (GLWWA) to collect data on swine manure nutrient content.
The GLWWA’s watershed action plan, endorsed by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, includes objectives related to agriculture. Many focus on reducing nutrient loading to streams. Nutrient loads can be reduced by addressing erosion problems and using best management practices when apply nutrients to the fields. The swine manure testing project helps facilitate farmers’ proper application of nutrients.
The goal of this project is to discover if local swine manure management practices can be modified to produce a manure product that is economical to transport, for application in other areas. Generally, because of high water content, it is not economical to transport swine manure more than a few miles. If the nutrient value can be concentrated, swine manure could be transported significant distances, where needed for application to farm fields.
During November 2009, the GLWWA met with integrators throughout the watershed to engage them in the project. They will determine which swine buildings will be best to sample and which contain the most common type of manure pit. The identification of the most common type of manure pit is important, to allow the results of the project to be applicable to a majority of swine farms in the region.
Contact: laura.walker@mercercountyohio.org
The GLWWA’s watershed action plan, endorsed by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, includes objectives related to agriculture. Many focus on reducing nutrient loading to streams. Nutrient loads can be reduced by addressing erosion problems and using best management practices when apply nutrients to the fields. The swine manure testing project helps facilitate farmers’ proper application of nutrients.
The goal of this project is to discover if local swine manure management practices can be modified to produce a manure product that is economical to transport, for application in other areas. Generally, because of high water content, it is not economical to transport swine manure more than a few miles. If the nutrient value can be concentrated, swine manure could be transported significant distances, where needed for application to farm fields.
During November 2009, the GLWWA met with integrators throughout the watershed to engage them in the project. They will determine which swine buildings will be best to sample and which contain the most common type of manure pit. The identification of the most common type of manure pit is important, to allow the results of the project to be applicable to a majority of swine farms in the region.
Contact: laura.walker@mercercountyohio.org
