Applying manure during humid, low wind speed days should be avoided because the odor will linger in the area longer. If manure must be spread on warm days, it should be spread in the morning. During irrigation, allow for a buffer zone of 50 ft from roads and 200 ft from residences when the wind is blowing away from the roads or homes. If the wind is blowing in the direction of the structures, increase the width of the buffer zone. The Soil and Water Conservation District personnel work with farmers to choose the best site for manure storage and to develop manure management plans that minimize odor.
Research continues to investigate ways of reducing odor from animal manure.
All animal producers are encouraged to provide adequate manure storage. Adequate storage implies that the storage facility is both large enough to contain manure through the periods of time in which it is less desirable to apply manure to cropland and constructed to provide accepted levels of containment. Manure can be stored in indoor facilities, such as deep pits, bedded packs, dry litter systems, or stored outside the facilities, such as tanks, ponds, and lagoons. Most modern dairy operations generate liquid manure. If sand is used as bedding, the storage facility for sand-laden manure often will have a concrete bottom to allow the operator to clean out the entire facility.