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Iowa application law in place


February 11, 2010  by Manure Manager

A new Iowa law limiting the land application of liquid manure on
snow-covered ground to only emergency situations went into effect Dec.
21, 2009.
A new Iowa law limiting the land application of liquid manure on snow-covered ground to only emergency situations went into effect Dec. 21, 2009.

The law does not apply to manure from open feedlots or dry manure. It applies to confinement (totally roofed) facilities with liquid manure that have 500 or more animal units. Generally, 500 animal units would be 1,250 finishing hogs; 5,000 nursery pigs; 500 steers, immature dairy cows or other cattle; or 357 mature dairy cows. 

 “However, all livestock and poultry producers need to protect water at all costs,” said Gene Tinker, Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) coordinator of animal feeding operations. “All producers must prevent pollution as they land apply manure.”

The law limits liquid application from Dec. 21 to April 1 if the ground is snow-covered. If manure can be injected or incorporated, there is no limit on land application during this time. Snow-covered ground is defined as soil having one inch or more of snow cover or one half inch or more of ice cover. 

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“Under those conditions, producers can only apply in emergency situations, defined in the law as unforeseen circumstances beyond the control of the producer, such as natural disaster, unusual weather conditions, or equipment or structural failure,” said Tinker. “They need to notify the regional DNR field office before they apply, and they can only apply to fields that are identified for emergency application in their manure management plans and have a Phosphorus Index of 2 or less.”

Tinker also said that because they are surface applying, producers and commercial applicators need to observe the separation distances, generally applying at least: 

  • 750 feet from buildings such as residences, businesses and schools; 
  • 200 feet from environmentally sensitive areas such as a drinking water wells, lakes, rivers, streams or agriculture drainage wells; and
  • 800 feet from high quality water resources. 

Tinker recommends that producers who might run out of storage this winter should consider emergency application early in the winter, not late.

“The research shows that the later in the season and the closer to spring snowmelt that you apply, the greater the risk that manure-laden runoff will reach a stream,” he said.

“Most important, they should use good common sense, applying on flat land with the least snow cover, located far from a stream,” If there are tile intakes downgradient of the application area, they must temporarily block the intake.”

Producers must report emergency applications starting Dec. 21 to the local DNR field office. Office locations and phone numbers are available at www.iowadnr.gov/fo/index.html .

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