When it comes to trimming fertilizer costs with low-cost nutrients from manure, most concerns center around timing and compaction issues, maintains Eric Debauch.

The operator of W.D. Farms, a custom manure application operation at Circleville, Ohio, says there’s plenty of money to be earned by no-tillers with proper manure application.

As an example, an application of 10,000 gallons per acre of liquid dairy manure is worth $134.70. An application of 6,000 gallons per acre of swine manure is worth $277.80, while an application of 10 wet tons of beef manure can earn $102.70 per acre. (See charts on Page 5 for details.)

In determining costs, Debauch suggests that no-tillers budget $3.50 to $4 per ton for the application of manure.

Right Equipment Counts

ManureSpreader_3.jpg

Debauch’s equipment can place anywhere from 5,000 to 10,000 gallons per acre in a knifed-in slot. While offering several manure spreading options, he sees numerous advantages and disadvantages with each. His equipment includes dry spreaders, drag hoses, honey wagons that pump and spread, and semi-trucks and trailers that are used when the manure haul is more than 4 miles.

Debauch says utilizing a Dietrich manure application knife for odor control has worked well. In fact, it’s led to a sizeable amount of new business from no-tillers who want manure injected with little soil disturbance.

“This knife also fluffs the soil, which improves aeration,” he says.

Find A Partner

Having operated a liquid and dry manure custom application business for more than 20 years, Debauch urges no-tillers to develop profitable partnerships with area livestock producers. He lists several manure management practices as being essential for adding value with your no-tilled crops:

  • Good record-keeping.

  • Determining nutrient credits in manure for accurate fertilizer value.

  • Soil testing to pinpoint accurate fertilization needs.

  • Developing a history of the fertility value of different types of purchased manure from various livestock operations.

 

ManureSpreader_2.jpg


Debauch says the most value from utilizing available nutrients in manure depends on correct planning, proper application scheduling, solid management, having the livestock operator maintain a minimum of 1 year’s storage, offering a quality nutrient product and having a reliable delivery and application system.

 “These things will ensure that a no-tiller will benefit from a partnership with a livestock operation,” he says.