Partners' plan protects the environment
While farmers take precautions to spread manure in ways that will keep it where it belongs, occasionally accidental manure spills occur. A partnership in Kewaunee County, which includes UW-Extension, farmers and local officials, has a plan to contain any manure spill quickly with minimal environmental consequences. Photo by Environmental Resources Center, UW-Madison
Manure spills on Wisconsin dairy farms are rare. When they do happen, the environmental consequences can be serious.
That's why the Kewaunee County University of Wisconsin-Extension office, Land and Water Conservation Department, and Emergency Management agency came together to develop a procedure for responding to a spill if one were to occur.
Plentiful and inexpensive
"Our county has almost 300 dairy farms and 28,000 cows that produce a lot of milk and 560,000 gallons of manure each day," says Jennifer Keuning, Kewaunee County UW-Extension agriculture agent. "We have a responsibility to be safe and efficient in utilizing the nutrients and protecting the environment."
"Manure is valuable fertilizer that farmers apply to farm fields in place of expensive chemical fertilizers," she explains. "Although farmers use care in handling and storing manure, accidents can happen."
Quick response
Keuning says the plan, adopted in May 2003, was called into action in September 2003 when a manure tanker turned short and ended up in the ditch.
"Because we had the plan, everyone knew exactly what to do and who to call," Keuning says. "The farmer quickly dammed the culvert to contain the manure spill until it could be cleaned up, and then used a vacuum truck to suck up the spill."
Sharing expertise…
Preventing an environmental problem can pose a complex set of issues. Bringing together people with a variety of skills, experiences and perspectives increases the chance that solutions will be effective. In this partnership, UW-Extension and members of the Land and Water Conservation staff provided the technical expertise and education. Emergency Management shared expertise in managing the incident logistically. The team also sought input from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and local dairy producers.
…and responsibility
"We developed a manure-spill response plan so farmers, law enforcement and everyone involved would be prepared," Keuning says. "By following this plan, farmers demonstrate they are responsible to their community and the environment." -Mary Ellen Bell
For more information: Agricultural Agent Jennifer Keuning, jennifer.keuning@ces.uwex.edu, (920) 388-7138