Preparing for winter manure spreading, even if it is not needed, will save time, money and stress if the need arises.
Trevor Wallace, provincial nutrient management specialist with the Alberta government, says extreme weather events, full manure storages, delayed harvest or contractor availability may be some of the most common reasons a farm operator may need to spread manure on frozen and/or snow-covered ground.
However, when the ground is frozen or snow-covered, the risk of losing applied manure and nutrients in runoff is much greater due to limited soil infiltration, reduced vegetative filtering and increased runoff potential. It is important to be aware of the increased risks and manage them.
Read Also
Alberta farm lives up to corn capital reputation
A Farm to Table Tour featured Molnar Farms, which grows a large variety of market fruits and vegetables including corn, with Taber being known as the Corn Capital of Canada.
