Can I access sufficient land for manure application?

Critical Questions for new animal feeding operations

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:

Animals	Land for N*	Land for P*
1,000 cow dairy	1,300 ac	2,100 ac
1,000 beef cattle	100 ac	270 ac (open lot)
1,000 beef cattle	130 ac	270 ac (barn)
100,000 layers	530 ac	1,400 ac
100,000 broilers	60 ac	810 ac
1,000 finishing pigs	110 ac	160 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.

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