Manure is part of life on your farm, and it’s important to know what to do with it for sanitation and odor control. Follow these tips for manure management for your small farm.
If your farm has a lot of manure, windrows are a practical way to manage it. Windrows are long and narrow manure piles, 10 to 15 feet wide and 3 to 5 feet high, with space between the rows for drainage and turning. You can create windrows with a power take-off (PTO) manure spreader, front loader with bucket or manure fork to make them the correct height.
Turning composting manure windrows helps get oxygen into the pile and is an important part of the composting process. You can turn compost with a tractor, front loader with a bucket or pitchfork once per week, turning the manure into the inner part of the windrow for even heating.
Your manure windrows can be exposed during rain, but you’ll need to manage the runoff to prevent ground and surface water contamination. Runoff management options include:
Manure windrows need to be built on a pad made from concrete, compacted clay, asphalt or another impervious surface that allows for draining. Cleaning the pad regularly is important for preventing odor and pests. You can keep the manure pads clean with tractor attachments like scraper blades or box blades.
Holt Ag Solutions has the equipment and implements you need to manage manure on your farm, including:
Whether you’re comparing manure spreaders versus compost spreaders or need assistance choosing the right solutions, our team is here to help. We work with small farm owners and operators across California and Oregon. We understand the challenges you face and the equipment you need to overcome them.
Order box blades, spreaders and other management equipment and implements by contacting us to make a purchase. Find your nearest Holt Ag Solutions location and visit us to see our equipment in person.