Influxes of phosphorus or nitrogen can cause excessive algae growth. As algae decay, they deplete dissolved oxygen which can cause fish kills. Aquatic bacteria can also deplete this oxygen when decomposing the organic matter found in the manure. In addition, bacteria in livestock wastes can make recreation and shellfish harvests unsafe. Manure Storage Effective manure storage allows flexibility in nutrient management.
Storage eliminates daily hauling and allows timely application to row crops.
As part of a comprehensive nutrient management plan, improved manure utilization can also increase a farm's profits. Manure storage can, however be expensive to build. Fortunately assistance is available to reimburse farmers for a portion of this financial burden. A cost shared structure can lead to considerable savings in fertilizer costs and can pay for itself in as little as 2 years. Contact your Soil Conservation District Office for design information and MACS applications.