MARYLAND- A ban on spreading manure and other nutrient sources on cropland, including food processing residuals, is expected to start next week.
The Maryland Department of Agriculture says the ban will start on December 16th and end on March 1st. Farmers can start spreading again based on their nutrient management plan recommendations as long as the field is not saturated, snow-covered, or hard-frozen, according to the department.
Officials say Maryland’s nutrient management regulations stop farmers from spreading manure in winter because of an increased risk of runoff into nearby waterways. Farmers are required to store liquid manure sources on farms in buildings. The department may work with livestock farmers to prevent overflows from storage structures and minimize impacts on water quality. In these instances, farmers are asked to contact the Nutrient Management Program for emergency authorization before spreading.
Temporary field stockpiling of “stackable” poultry litter and other qualifying organic nutrient sources is allowed if the moisture content is 60% or less. Farmers may not apply stackable organic nutrient sources to fields in winter under any conditions.
Farmers should contact their regional nutrient management specialist if they have storage concerns, questions about the regulations, or need guidance on storage requirements. For more information, please visit the department’s Nutrient Management Program website.
