Manure application was to begin on April 10 but based on current conditions, it probably won’t start for another two to three weeks.
Doug Redekop, president of Precision Pumping Ltd. of La Broquerie, MB said despite a wet spring and a delay in applying the manure he’s filled with hope.
“Never have we seen a year where people are more aware of the value of manure because the high fertilizer costs tend to do that to people. At the same time, I’m scared about the fuel costs and all the other extra costs that have come down the pipeline in the last two years.”
While concerned for his livestock producer clients’ continued financial and profitability turmoil due to fluctuating incomes and production costs it’s a mixed bag.
“For the most part, I’m putting on a positive face, and I see some exciting things coming here in the next 12 to 24 months.”
Manure applicators work hand in hand with agronomic experts to develop ways to maximize the value of manure that isn’t an environmental detriment. In near-infrared technology becoming more acceptable has helped show the non-farming public the actual value of manure and its application.
When beginning a new site, it’s vital to have the fields properly tested and results in hand to put the fertilizer in place. In addition, farmers need to have adequate and adequately conditioned land to receive that manure.
“We could be applying right next to the barn, or four to five miles away from the barn. So it’s quite a process with landowners receiving the manure, but other landowners’ fields we’re crossing over to get to that field for application.”
The manure smell is another major factor for the non-farming population and farmer clients are particular about how they apply the manure. This caused a switch back to shovels from using coulters to inject the manure. Instead, the applicator uses a coulter to cut the trash and an opener to lift the soil profile and deposit the manure burying the manure underneath, between two and four inches of dirt.
“From an application standpoint, there isn’t much we contribute to odour except when agitating the storage as we’re mixing the manure. So we’re doing our part to minimize the odour impact on the local community through those efforts.”
The disease issues, especially the PED virus, which is a huge issue again this year, take extra precautions while minimizing manure agitation and working closely with the farmer clients. This means coupling the PED sites in a block minimizing traffic of PED-infected sites as much as possible.
“We wash, disinfect, and then come out after swabbing and then move out of the PED infected farm using their hot water wash. So we do not need to call anybody in. We wash right on site before we leave for the next site to try to contain it, and so we’re working hard to do our best to minimize the risks.”
With fertilizer prices skyrocketing, the value of manure increases.
Redekop said the value depends on the type of livestock whether dairy, hog nursery, a finish, or a dry sow barn. Each of those livestock production units has different qualities of manure.
Lack of moisture saw liquid manure go from two to four per cent solids up to 11 and 12 per cent solids in 2021 so more concentrated than ever before. High evaporative levels and crops that didn’t pull out very much nutrition lowered required rates or switch to another field.
While Doug and his wife Sandra have run Precision Pumping for almost 29 years, it’s a co-operative owned by farmers. As a result, about 80 per cent of the manure Precision pumps are for shareholders and the balance for non-shareholders. •
— By Harry Siemens
