By Andi Anderson
Ohio farmers applying manure in winter must follow strict state regulations to prevent environmental damage. Permitted farms cannot apply manure unless in an extreme emergency, and alternative storage is often required.
In the Grand Lake St. Marys (GLSM) watershed, winter manure application is banned from December 15 to March 1. In the Western Lake Erie Basin (WLEB) watershed, House Bill 1 rules from 2016 still apply. The NRCS Code 590, revised in 2020, prohibits surface manure application on frozen soil unless in an emergency, with strict application limits.
Key manure application rules include:
- Maximum 5,000 gallons/acre or P removal rate for the next crop.
- Application only on fields with 90% residue cover.
- No more than 20 contiguous acres per application.
- Maintain 200-foot setbacks from waterways and 300-foot setbacks from wells.
- Apply on areas least likely to transport nutrients, avoiding slopes and drainage areas.
Farmers with solid manure can use short-term or long-term storage. Short-term stockpiling (NRCS 318) allows storage for up to 180 days in application fields. Long-term storage (NRCS 313) requires permanent facilities with structural designs to prevent runoff.
Farmers should check with local Soil and Water Conservation District offices before applying manure in winter. Regulations vary by county, and following the latest rules ensures compliance and environmental protection.
Categories: Ohio, Sustainable Agriculture