MONROE - Warmer temperatures and rain forecast for this weekend will be a welcome change for many Green County residents, but the aftermath could pose problems as snow begins to melt.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection is asking livestock farmers to avoid applying manure into fields if it rains or the snow begins to melt.
The DNR, in a news release issued Thursday, told farmers to not spread manure when rain or snow is running off the land to prevent it from being spread to lakes, streams and groundwater where it could cause water quality problems.
"While manure runoff events are less frequent, most of those that do occur involve manure that had been spread on fields and ran off into nearby waters," the DNR said.
According to the DNR, winter is a risky time to apply manure onto fields so it's best not to spread manure if a storage area is available.
Some things farmers can do to avoid causing manure runoffs include:
• Contacting their land conservation district to help identify fields with the lowest risk of runoff under frozen or snow-covered conditions. The phone number in Green County is 325-4195.
• Pay attention to weather forecasts to know if predicted rain and warmer temperatures could result in manure runoff.
• Where possible, apply manure to fields with little or no snow cover. Getting manure into contact with soil surfaces can help reduce runoff.
• Avoid putting manure on fields with shallow soils or areas that have nearby wells, sinkholes or exposed bedrock.
• Be aware of field conditions. Ice covered fields have a higher potential for runoff.
• Work the manure into the soil if the soil is not frozen.
Even if farmers follow the suggestions from the DNR, runoff is still possible.
If runoff occurs, contact the DNR at (800) 943-0003.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection is asking livestock farmers to avoid applying manure into fields if it rains or the snow begins to melt.
The DNR, in a news release issued Thursday, told farmers to not spread manure when rain or snow is running off the land to prevent it from being spread to lakes, streams and groundwater where it could cause water quality problems.
"While manure runoff events are less frequent, most of those that do occur involve manure that had been spread on fields and ran off into nearby waters," the DNR said.
According to the DNR, winter is a risky time to apply manure onto fields so it's best not to spread manure if a storage area is available.
Some things farmers can do to avoid causing manure runoffs include:
• Contacting their land conservation district to help identify fields with the lowest risk of runoff under frozen or snow-covered conditions. The phone number in Green County is 325-4195.
• Pay attention to weather forecasts to know if predicted rain and warmer temperatures could result in manure runoff.
• Where possible, apply manure to fields with little or no snow cover. Getting manure into contact with soil surfaces can help reduce runoff.
• Avoid putting manure on fields with shallow soils or areas that have nearby wells, sinkholes or exposed bedrock.
• Be aware of field conditions. Ice covered fields have a higher potential for runoff.
• Work the manure into the soil if the soil is not frozen.
Even if farmers follow the suggestions from the DNR, runoff is still possible.
If runoff occurs, contact the DNR at (800) 943-0003.