Utilizing Manure
Livestock operations produce more than just meat and jobs. They also produce nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in animal manure. These nutrients can be important by-products when effectively managed and utilized for field crop production. By properly recycling these nutrients, a producer can reduce an operation's reliance on energy-intensive commercial fertilizer for crop production. Manure that is properly managed and effectively applied presents little hazard to surface water or ground water and improves soil tilth. Manure is an asset rather than a liability for Iowa.
Most Iowa farmers view manure as a waste and feel that it is something that needs to be "gotten rid of'. Instead of viewing manure as a waste, livestock producers and grain farmers need to view manure as a product that can be substituted for commercial fertilizer; an economic resource. In order to be fully utilized as a fertilizer, manure needs to be exported from those who have excess and imported by those who can properly utilize it. Unfortunately, the one-on-one technical expertise for proper manure management is significantly lacking in Iowa today. A manure brokering service can provide the one-on-one assistance to better manage manure.
Agren has recently received a grant through the Iowa Department of Economic Development to start a "Value-added" manure brokering service. This service is being designed to help those livestock producers who have excess manure transport the manure to those grain farmers who can utilize the manure as fertilizer. In most cases, livestock producers are willing to give their manure away if the grain farmer is willing to pay the cost of hauling. Agren will broker manure for those livestock producers who have excess manure (exporters) by finding grain farmers who can utilize the manure (importers). The grain farmer will be assessed hauling and application charges, plus a brokering fee.
This arrangement is a win-win situation for the importer, exporter, and the environment. The livestock producer benefits by having empty storage pits, the grain farmer benefits by receiving nutrient inputs at a lower cost, and the environment benefits from the responsible application of nutrients.
Progress to Date
In 1996, Tom Buman started a small pilot manure-brokering project while employed by USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Due to a small operating budget and personnel shortage, only a limited program could be developed. In organizing the model for this early manure-brokering program, Buman researched the existence and success of other manure brokering programs throughout the United States. There were some limited manure brokering services developed but none were to the extent needed. The coordinators of the programs considered their manure brokering programs to be less successful than they had hoped.
In initiating the pilot manure-brokering project, Buman conducted a survey of all Carroll County landowners and farm operators to determine the level of interest in a manure-brokering program. Of the 68 people who responded to the questionnaire, 51 farmers said they would be interested in receiving, or importing manure, while 17 livestock producers said they would be willing to provide, or export manure. The names and addresses of the importers and exporters were published in a brochure, and shared with all interested parties. It was left up to the individuals to contact one another.
Although there was excellent response to the initial survey, we have no knowledge of any exchange of manure. It is our feeling that the lack of action on either the importer's or the exporter's side was due to the lack of coordination and technical assistance. Passive approaches to manure brokering have been largely unsuccessful.
To fully implement a successful manure-brokering program, we have determined that the program coordinator must take an active role in bringing together exporters and importers. In addition, the coordinator must provide the technical assistance in order to insure proper nutrient crediting and proper manure application methods.
Industry
In Iowa, during 1996, there were 24,000,000 hogs marketed (Iowa Pork Producers Association) and 2,400,000 cattle fed (Iowa Cattlemen's Association). Iowa ranks first in the nation in hog production and fifth in cattle production. (Iowa's Rank in Agriculture)
Western Iowa is known for its high concentration of cattle, hogs and cropland. Carroll County is a leader in Iowa's livestock industry, marketing the third highest number of cattle and the sixth highest number of hogs in the state. This concentration of livestock indicates that a substantial source of manure exists.
The Carroll Soil and Water Conservation District has determined that the manure produced yearly in Carroll County is estimated to be worth $5.7 million, based on fertility value. However, it has also been estimated that 75-80% of this manure is mismanaged. This represents an enormous loss of potential profits and damage to the environment. Reasons that farmers do not properly utilize manure include the following:
- The nutrient content of manure is too inconsistent.
- Application methods are too inaccurate to properly credit manure.
- Using manure is too much bother. Farmers do not feel it is worth their time.
- Individuals do not trust the fertility value of manure. They are concerned that their
- crop yields will suffer.
- Distribution of manure is not equal. Some individuals have more manure than they can effectively use, while others could benefit by importing manure.
- There is a lack of agronomic expertise in the agricultural community to make recommendations to those producers who want to use manure to replace commercial fertilizer.