A partner with Agra-Gold Consulting observes the technology used to apply livestock manure to the fields has seen tremendous advancement over the past 30 to 40 years.
“Manure Matters” a new video that outlines what swine manure injection is and explains the technologies and methods involved is being made available by Manitoba Pork Council.
Scott Dick, a partner with southeastern Manitoba based Agra-Gold Consulting, a nutrient management planning company that prepares about 25 percent of the manure management plans filed annually with Manitoba Conservation, says manure management has changed dramatically over the past 30 to 40 years.
First of all there’s been an increased awareness of environmental protection through education and regulation.
30 to 40 years ago many producers would own their own equipment and so use like a small two thousand gallon tanker to spread their own manure versus now we have custom application crews that have equipment in excess of a million dollars to precisely apply these nutrients to the land.
There’s been many advancements in the types of toolbars that we use in the fields.
Most manure that is done by custom applicators is done by a drag hose system today where we lay a long umbilical hose out to the field.
There’s lots of technology such as flow meters, GPS AutoSteer systems, mapping computers and even remote pump management technology that assists in the application.
We also use other methods such as using a multi-cell manure storage system that allows us to target where do we want most of the phosphorus to go when we do an application and we do an awful lot of lab testing, first of all of the soil’s nutrient status but then also of the manure that’s going on the field.
So the mindset is very much focused on maximizing that nutrient value of the nitrogen and phosphorus that’s in the manure to ensure we can grow great crops.
For more information on the Manure Matters video visit Manitoba Pork Council’s web site at manitobapork.com.
