MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) is reminding farmers and manure applicators to check the runoff risk advisory forecast before spreading manure on fields. This tool helps determine the potential for manure runoff from a field depending on weather conditions and soil temperature. The runoff risk advisory forecast includes maps showing short-term runoff risk for manure application. The maps account for soil saturation, temperature, and precipitation on a scale of 1.5 square-mile grids. The National Weather Service updates the forecast four times daily. “A nutrient management plan helps determine where to spread, and the proper application rate, while the runoff risk advisory forecast helps determine when to spread. Assessing current field conditions is just one step in the process farmers should use to make decisions,” said Andrea Topper, DATCP nutrient management outreach specialist. “Farmers who don’t have a plan can talk to their crop consultant or county conservationist to develop one.” To help reduce nitrogen loss during fall manure applications, it is recommended to:
- Wait until soil temperatures are less than 50 degrees Fahrenheit. When soil temperatures are above 50 degrees, soil microbes are very active and create a more leachable form of nitrogen.
- Apply manure to an actively growing crop, such as winter wheat or a cover crop, to help scavenge some of the nitrogen that otherwise might be lost.
For more information about nutrient management planning, visit https://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/Programs_Services/NutrientManagement.aspx.
