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608-267-2773

Manure Runoff Media Kit

Basics

Farmer spreading manure on his field.
Photo credit: UW-Extension

Did You Know...

Wisconsin has 3.35 million cattle and calves.
1,247,000 dairy cows
410,000 hogs
6,000,000 turkeys
34,400,000 broilers
83,000 sheep
33,000 goats
706,000 mink

Most farmers carefully manage manure, but manure improperly spread on farm fields can be carried into lakes, rivers and groundwater by rain or melting snow. Farmers lose the manure as a valuable fertilizer and the manure can cause water quality problems, contaminate drinking water wells and groundwater, and kill fish. The typical dairy cow, for example:

produces 7 to 8 gallons of milk a day
generates 150 pounds of manure a day
generates as much organic pollution in a day as 18 people

If a spill or runoff occurs, farmers are required to immediately call the DNR Spills Hotline at 1-800-943-0003 and take steps to contain the manure and minimize the damage.
Dozens of manure runoff events are reported to the DNR every year. The 59 runoff events reported between July 2004 and June 2005, including more than a dozen resulting in fish kills, drew significant public attention.
Manure spills and runoff have also contaminated several dozen private drinking water wells in recent years: between March 2006 and October 2009, 41 families with household incomes of less than $65,000 have received state compensation to replace manure-contaminated wells.
Large manure runoffs to surface waters can not only kill fish, but the smaller animals that make up the food chain in these streams. It can take a decade or more for the aquatic community to be restored.
State law requires large-scale farms or other farms with state wastewater discharge permits, known as Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations, or CAFOS, to follow restrictions on when and where to spread manure to decrease the risk of runoff. Smaller farms are required to meet performance standards and comply with prohibitions regarding manure storage and spreading provided the farmer is offered state financial help [PDF 663KB].
Since 2005, when significant fish kills occurred as a result of manure runoff, DNR, the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, the University of Wisconsin System, county conservation agents and the industry itself have worked to raise awareness of the risk of winter spreading, the steps to take to contain the manure and minimize damage to lakes and rivers. Demonstrations [PDF 2.93MB] showing farmers the steps to contain manure should a spill occur and better training of manure haulers are among those efforts.
- Watch a recent spill cleanup demonstration: Manure spill training session [exit DNR]
Changes to Wisconsin's rules to reduce runoff seek to further cut the phosphorus, found in both manure and commercial fertilizer, that runs off agricultural operations.12:20 PM 03/17/2012

Prevention Campaign

DNR has been proactively working with partners to raise awareness about the dangers of spreading manure when rain or melting snow is forecast, with such efforts increasing after 2005 when 59 manure related incidents were reported.

Winter 2010 Campaign

The DNR launched a radio campaign to urge farmers to avoid spreading and take other steps to prevent manure runoff. The spot features a Belleville farmer and avid trout angler.

An early snow melt washed manure into the Sugar River and 12 hours later it reached our farm. The river was brown. It smelled and I spent the morning counting dead fish.

-Steve Haak, Belleville farmer

Hear the rest of his story. [MP3: 865Kb]

Fall 2009 Campaign

DNR, DATCP, UW-Extension, NRCS and the Professional Nutrient Applicators Association of Wisconsin (PNAAW) are teaming up in radio advertisements, press releases and various outreach activities to reach producers with important reminders aimed at keeping Wisconsin citizens, waters and farms healthy.

Hear the advertisements

Act now to prevent manure runoff later

Prevention

Prepare for Winter 2010 Now

Innovations

How we dispose of manure hasn't changed much in millennia, but there are growing efforts in Wisconsin and elsewhere to better manage and dispose of manure.

Managed Grazing

One quarter of Wisconsin dairy farms use managed grazing systems where the cows rotate among fields every day or two, with each field getting up to 30 days of growth and rest before the cows return. The cows, not the farmers, spread their manure.

Green Pastures, Green Futures
Managed grazing, once the Rodney Dangerfield of the agricultural world, is getting more respect.

Green Pastures - Green Futures [VIDEO Length 10:01]

Energy Generation

Wisconsin, with 19 farms and counting, leads the nation in operating anaerobic digester systems that process raw manure into a combustible gas for use in generating electricity or heat.

Farm Energy from Manure [PDF exit DNR]
Anaerobic digestion technology is a powerful tool for managing organic farm waste, particularly cow, swine and chicken manure.

Biogas Case Study [PDF exit DNR]
As of July 2008, there were 17 farms with operating anaerobic digester systems in Wisconsin.

Treatment of Manure as Wastewater

St. Croix County-based Emerald Dairy now treats manure at their state-of-the-art wastewater treatment system before discharging it to an area creek.

Contacts

Mary Anne Lowndes
DNR Runoff Management Section Chief
(608) 261-6420

Tom Bauman
DNR agricultural runoff coordinator
(608) 266-9993

Agricultural Runoff Management Staff and Partners

Prevention Campaign

Jim VandenBrook, DATCP (608) 224-4501
Kevin Erb, UWEX (920) 391-4652
Mary Anne Lowndes, DNR, (608) 261-6420
Renae Anderson, NRCS, (608) 662-4422 ext. 227