With record high fertilizer prices more grain farmers are interested in utilizing livestock manure in their cropping scheme for 2022. SDSU Extension Soils Field Specialist Anthony Bly says manure has become a hot commodity.

He recommends if growers are going to broker or buy manure from an area livestock, poultry, or dairy producer they need to start with a nutrient test to determine the value of that input and a soil test to establish the application rate for each field.

Bly says growers that have never applied manure before do not need to file a nutrient management plan with the state as that has likely already been accounted for by the livestock producer, especially if they are a confined animal feeding operation.

The SDSU Extension Service has more information on their website.