Manure - Utilize storage facilities so that nutrients can be applied to the land when there will be the least risk of water contamination. Avoid spreading in late fall through early spring when the ground is frozen. Manure applications should be made just prior to corn planting or green up in the spring when corn and perennial grasses have the greatest capacity to utilize nitrogen. Avoid excessive application rates of manure. Plow down or disc manure under within 2 days to avoid heavy losses of ammonia nitrogen.
Field stacking of manure at selected sites can be a best option when storage capacity is limited.
Late summer or early fall applications of manure to corn stubble are acceptable when the land is generally level. Early fall applications of manure to sod land should be limited to land that has a vigorous grass sod or a well established cover corp growth. Plow down applications of 15-20 tons of manure can be used effectively on forage seedings. August seedings are less likely to have a weed problem and the incorporation can be lighter providing the manure is well mixed with the top 4-5 inches of soil.