Transcript Document

Good Agricultural
Practices
(GAP)
for Fresh Fruit and
Vegetable Growers
New England Extension Food Safety
Partnership
Project funded by USDA CSREES – Project Number 2000-05389
Manure
Manure Handling
and
Field Application
Why be Concerned About Manure?
 Livestock manure can be a valuable source
of nutrients, but it also can be a source of
human pathogens if not managed correctly
 Some pathogens, such as L.
monocytogenes and E. coli sp.,
may survive and grow in the soil
 Keep manure off produce!
Primary Nutrients In Animal
Manures
Kind of
Animal
Beef
Dairy
Horses
Hogs
Sheep
Laying
Hens
Broilers
(Litter)
Turkeys
Ducks
Water
Content
Percent
As Is Basis
Nitrogen Phosphate
(N)
(P2O5)
Dry Basis
Potash Nitrogen Phosphate Potash
(K2O)
(N)
(P2O5)
(K2O)
80
84
60
75
65
75
14
12
12
10
21
20
9
5
5
7
7
25
11
12
9
13
19
10
70
75
30
40
60
80
45
31
13
28
20
100
55
75
23
52
54
40
20
65
39
33
81
49
41
75
74
26
15
15
12
10
5
104
58
60
46
40
19
MircoNutrients In Animal Manure
Kind of
Animal
Horses
Cattle
Sheep
Hogs
Laying
Hens
Broilers
(litter)
Water
Content
Percent
*B
Ca
Cu
Fe
Mg
Mn
Mo
60
80
65
75
50
.03
.03
.02
.08
.12
15.7
5.6
11.7
11.4
74.0
.01
.01
.01
.01
.03
.27
.08
.32
.26
.93
2.8
2.2
3.7
1.6
5.8
.02
.02
.02
.04
.18
.002
.002
.002
.002
.011
30
.08
29.0
.06
2.00
8.4
.46
.007
S
Zn
1.4
1.0
1.8
2.7
6.2
.03
.03
.05
.12
.18
Pounds Per Ton
.25
*B-Boron, Ca-Calcium, Cu-Copper, Fe-Iron, Mg-Magnesium, Mn-Manganese, Mo-Molybedum, S-Sulfur,
Zn-Zinc
Composting Manure for Safety:
What can you do?
 Properly and thoroughly compost manure
 Incorporate manure into soil prior to planting
 Remember to optimize temperature, turning, and
time to produce high quality, stable compost.
 High temperatures achieved by well-managed,
aerobic compost can kill most harmful pathogens
 If manure is not composted, age the manure to be
applied to produce fields for at least six months prior
to application
Using Manure That is Not
Composted: What can you do?
Manure
2. Plan/Choose: Time
application properly and
choose crops wisely
1. Manage compost piles to
achieve high temperatures
to kill potential pathogens.
Wes Kline, NJ Agricultural
Experiment Station
3. Know the source.
 Plan Before Planting
 Consider the source, storage, and type of manure
being used on the farm
 Store manure as far away as practical from areas
where fresh produce is grown and handled
 Where possible, erect physical barriers or wind
barriers to prevent runoff and wind drift of manure
 Store manure slurry for at least 60 days in the
summer and 90 days in the winter before applying to
fields
 Choose Appropriate Crops
 Apply manure to grain or forage crop
 Apply manure to perennial crops in the planting
year only as the long period between application
and harvest will reduce the risks
 Avoid growing root and leafy crops in the year
that manure is applied to a field
 NO side/top-dressing of plants are important
steps toward reducing the risk of microbial
contamination
 Time Manure Application Carefully
 It is recommended that manure is applied late
summer/early fall no later than December 10-15
 Apply manure in the fall or at the end of the season
to all planned vegetable ground or fruit acreage,
preferable when soils are warm, unsaturated, and
cover-cropped
 If applying manure in the spring (or the start of a
season), spread the manure two weeks before
planting, preferable to grain or forage crops
 DO NOT harvest vegetables or fruits until 120 days
after manure application

Incorporate Manure Into The
Soil
 Incorporate manure immediately after application
 If it is necessary to apply manure or slurry to
vegetable or fruit ground, incorporate it at least
two weeks prior to planting and observe the
suggested 120-day pre-harvest interval
 If the 120-day waiting period is not feasible, such
as for short season crops like lettuce or leafy
greens, apply only properly composted manure
Food Safety Partnership
 New England Cooperative Extension Food Safety Specialists
From:

University of Connecticut

University of Maine

University of Massachusetts

University of New Hampshire

University of Rhode Island

University of Vermont
 Other Representatives:




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State Agriculture Divisions/Departments
USDA Agencies (Farm Service Agency, ASCS, NRCS)
Farm Bureau
Growers Associations
Cooperative Extension Agricultural Specialists/Agents