Manure Application Equipment

Manure is a valuable nutrient source, but it needs equipment that spreads evenly and a plan that protects water. Solid and liquid manure call for different machines.

Key points

Solid and liquid manure call for different equipment and different risks.
Check state and local rules on setbacks, timing and records before spreading.
Test manure and soil, and calibrate spreaders to match.
Never enter manure pits or tanks, and keep PTO shields on.
Wash out and inspect equipment regularly since manure is corrosive.

What kinds of manure application equipment are there?

Solid manure goes on with box spreaders, side-slinger or flail spreaders and rear-discharge spreaders. Liquid manure is applied with tank wagons, drag hoses, pivot or traveling guns and injection toolbars. Semi-solid material may need a spreader designed for it.

Rules for manure application vary a great deal by state, region and farm size. They can cover setbacks from water, winter spreading and record keeping. Check with your state department of agriculture, your extension office and NRCS before you plan.

Plan around the calendar as well as the equipment. Storage capacity, field access, crop stage and weather all decide when you can spread, so a machine that works fine in dry summer may be useless in a wet spring.

How do solid manure spreaders work?

A box spreader carries material on a floor chain or apron toward beaters at the rear that shred and throw it. Spread width depends on the beaters, the material and the speed. Dry, strawy manure behaves differently than wet material.

A small homestead might use a ground-driven spreader behind a compact tractor to clean a barn. A cattle ranch moving large volumes needs larger capacity and sturdier drives.

Floor chain or apron moves material back
Beaters shred and spread
Gate or floor speed sets rate
Material type changes pattern and wear

What about liquid manure equipment?

Liquid systems use pumps, tanks, hoses and application tools. Injection places material below the surface, which can reduce odor and surface runoff. Surface application spreads on top and may be easier but carries more risk of loss and odor.

Tanks and pumps for liquid manure are heavy and need powerful tractors, so check weight and PTO requirements in the manual. Hoses and fittings must stand up to abrasion and pressure.

How do you calibrate manure spreaders?

Manure varies by animal type, bedding, moisture and storage method, so the machine's chart is only a guide. Extension offices publish calibration methods for solid spreaders, such as weighing a load and measuring the area it covers, and for liquid tankers by measuring how much is applied over a known distance.

A manure test from a lab helps you work out nutrient content and plan rates. Use the results alongside a soil test. Keep records of rates, dates, fields and weather.

Note the size of the load and how many loads each field took. Simple counts and a field map give you a workable rate record, even if you have no scales on the machine.

What safety hazards come with manure equipment?

Manure storage and tanks can release gases that are dangerous or deadly, especially during agitation and pumping. Never enter a manure pit or tank, and follow guidance from NIOSH and your extension office on ventilation and confined spaces. Keep people and animals away during agitation.

Spreaders have exposed PTO shafts, chains and beaters. Keep shields in place, shut down and wait for all parts to stop before clearing a jam, and never reach into a running machine. Loaded spreaders are heavy, so respect the tractor's limits on slopes.

Never enter a manure pit or tank
Keep PTO shields and guards on
Shut off and wait for motion to stop before clearing jams
Keep children and bystanders well away

How do you protect water and neighbors?

Avoid spreading near streams, wells, ponds and ditches, on frozen or saturated ground, or ahead of heavy rain. Check wind direction and consider the neighbors. Keep spreader loads from dripping on public roads, and clean the road if material is tracked out.

Public-road rules for hauling vary by state, so check with your state DOT or highway patrol on lighting, marking and load limits.

What maintenance does manure equipment need?

Manure and bedding are corrosive. Wash out after use, grease fittings as the manual directs with the specified lubricants, check chains, apron slats, beaters and bearings, and replace worn parts before they fail. For gearbox, hydraulic or structural repairs, see a dealer service department or qualified mechanic.

Clean the machine before cold weather so material does not freeze in the box or around the beaters. Frozen manure can bend chains and break teeth when the machine starts up in spring.

When to get help: Talk to your NRCS office, county extension agent and state department of agriculture about nutrient management plans and local rules. A qualified mechanic should handle gearbox, hydraulic and structural repairs.

Sources and further reading

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