Manure spills are defined as manure that is released to the environment in a manner that exceeds the rate of nutrient uptake by plants or applied in a manner that is not identified in the “Nutrient Management Plan.” Manure spills may occur during manure storage, transportation and land application.

Livestock manures contain many beneficial and valuable plant nutrients. However, if the manure application equipment is not properly calibrated, these valuable nutrients may be wasted by overapplication or crop yield goals may not be met due to underapplication. This publication explains 2 simple manure spreader calibration techniques.

Nitrate poisoning can occur commonly in cattle raised in North Dakota and other areas of the western Great Plains. Poisoning is usually associated with animals ingesting forage or feed witha high nitrate content. Sheep and cattle are more susceptible to poisoning than nonruminant species because microbes in their digestive tract favor the conversion of nitrate to nitrite.

Manure nutrient content can be impacted by several variables such as North Dakota’s dynamic climate and available feedstuffs for cattle.

Livestock manure management issues are becoming increasingly important and complex. Ample educational, technical and financial assistance is available to producers. Individuals are encouraged to take a proactive approach when dealing with livestock manure to take advantage of resources and avoid negative regulatory action.

Accurate sampling and laboratory testing provides actual manure nutrient information. This information allows crop producers to strategize for maximum crop yields and minimal manure nutrient impact to the environment.

This document is a guide to the North Dakota Grazing Monitoring Stick. A Grazing Monitoring Stick can be a fast, user-friendly tool for measuring and monitoring utilization of pasture and rangeland. Utilization measures the percent of the plant that has been removed by grazing animals. Monitoring utilization of grass can determine livestock removal date and prevent overgrazing.

An electrical conductivity or total dissolved solids meter is a quick method to estimate total dissolved solids in water and determine water quality.