As every farmer or rancher knows, running a livestock operation involves dealing with a good bit of manure, literally and sometimes figuratively.
While manure is a natural part of farming, it can build up and get out of hand, posing a lot of questions for producers. Where and how can you safely dispose of it? Do you consider the environmental impact? Can it be recycled? Luckily for the farmer, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources has developed a Beef Waste Management System program (as well as management systems for other livestock) to help producers answer these questions, and put solid management practices to work on their farm.
According to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, animal waste management practices help to manage manure and other agricultural wastes. The practices are designed to reduce or prevent degradation of the soil and water resources. Systems are planned to eliminate discharge of pollutants to surface or groundwater and to recycle waste products back onto the land through correct soil application.
According to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ Animal Waste Management Resource Concern handbook, the Beef Waste Management System, and the cost share program that goes along with it, is applicable on farms where agricultural waste is being generated, and where the soil, plant and water resources are adequate to manage the waste properly.
The completed practice on the farm must also meet some specifications and standards from the Natural Resource Conservation Society (NRCS) in order to be eligible: Waste Storage Facility, Critical Area Planting, Vegetation Establishment, Herbaceous Seeding, Roofs and Covers, Nutrient Management, and Heavy Use Area Protection. The details of these specifications and standards can be found in the NRCS Field Office Technical Guide.
The Missouri Department of Natural Resources will assist in the cost of building a dry waste storage facility to ensure proper management and distribution of the farm’s waste, manure and litter. According the department, a 75 percent cost share is authorized for: “Floor space utilized to store dry waste from paved feedlot, a roof to cover dry storage area the wall necessary to enclose dry storage area and a collection gutter or basin from feedlot to storage area.”
A 50 percent cost share is authorized for the “area of the floor utilized for collection of waste in feeding and travel areas.” The actual out-of-pocket amount for the farmer, the exact building specifications and the technical responsibilities for the cost share program differ from county to county, so check with your local agency for the exact details.
If you participate in the Beef Waste Management System and the associated cost share program, you not only have the benefit of receiving funding and keeping the agricultural waste under control, you can also reduce your fertilizer costs by applying the stored manure to your fields – but don’t store it too long.
“To minimize the potential for both air and water pollution and to maximize nutrient recovery, manure should be incorporated into the soil as soon as possible after application. To prevent applying an excess of plant nutrients, long-term records should be kept on the amount applied to each field,” said MU Extension.
Keeping your manure under control will help you, your animals, and the natural resources surrounding your farm, producers should contact their regional Missouri Department of Natural Resources office to find out how they can apply for the Beef Waste Management System cost share program today.
