We Value Manure
Manure is a product of all animal agriculture, and a valuable one at that!
Manure is often thought of as either smelly, a nuisance, or an environmental threat, but the truth is, we couldn’t live without it! Manure is used as an organic fertilizer, soil health amendment, and alternative clean energy generator. It grows the crops you eat, improves the soil structure you walk on, and even provides energy to turn the lights on in your home. Whether you produce or consume food or fiber, it is collectively our responsibility to support, encourage, and promote good farming practices to improve water quality.
The next time you see manure being applied, or animals grazing in the field, stop and thank them for being out-standing in their field!
To ensure that manure stays where they want it, farmers these days use a number of environmental conservation practices and tools to protect water quality. These include manure application setbacks from waterways, real-time runoff advisories to choose good spreading times, manure and soil testing to match crop needs, low odor manure application technologies, winter cover crops to reduce soil erosion, and more. Farmers are striving to make a positive difference and protect their communities and natural resources. This campaign is highlighting some of the practices and contributions by farmers, because manure does have value!
Thank you to Washington State Department of Agriculture for funding this effort!
This manure awareness and appreciation campaign aims to provide information on the steps farmers take to protect water quality in local streams, rivers and bays and help generate a public understanding of how and why farmers recycle manure as an organic crop fertilizer and soil amendment. Topics discussed include the benefits of manure to soil and plants, how manure moves in the environment, manure spreading dates and setback requirements, the science of odor, fences and buffers, winter manure handling, and general protection of water quality using best management practices.
Check out each of the "punny" campaigns below. Click, print, and post somewhere fun!
