Can I access sufficient land for manure application?

Can I access sufficient land for manure application?

Nitrogen, phosphorus, and carbon excreted by livestock and poultry can be valuable nutrient sources in a crop fertility program or they can be critical pollutants to our surface and ground water. The first step to assuring that N and P are utilized by the crop and not a water pollutant is to ensure that a sufficient land base is available for crop production to utilize the N and P.

As a quick rule of thumb, use the following table to make a rough estimate of the land required for an animal feeding operation:

AnimalsLand for N*Land for P*
1,000 cow dairy1,300 ac2,100 ac
1,000 beef cattle100 ac270 ac (open lot)
130 ac270 ac (barn)
100,000 layers530 ac1,400 ac
100,000 broilers60 ac810 ac
1,000 finishing pigs110 ac160 ac

*Assumes manure will be used on corn averaging 200 bushel/ac corn.

For a more accurate estimate, it is suggested that you use the spreadsheet, Manure Nutrient and Land Requirement Estimator and the supporting instructions or a comparable product.