Let's be honest - manure happens.

It can grow into mountains on our farms very quickly.

What do we do with it?

We need to safely store it for a certain amount of time and then properly recycle it on our own land or take it off the farm to sites that can use it.

We may want to consider composting the manure to make it more desireable for us and others to use.

We also need to manage livestock yards and pastures to prevent manure build-up, mud, and runoff.

Let's be honest - this can be very challenging.

Managing manure, livestock yards and pastures are not simple topics. Our land resources and site conditions, and our time, resources and goals will affect our ability to make improvements.

But every step counts. Explore our "How To Manage" pages further as we step you through a variety of livestock management topics and provide you with a range of examples for making improvements.

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Why make improvements?

Photo courtesy of the Mid-Atlantic Equine Pasture Initiative

Manure is a valuable source of organic matter and nutrients for gardens and crops - nutrients that you have already paid for in feed and fertilizer costs.

We want to conserve nutrients and apply it to the land when it benefits gardens and crops most, saving you money.

Manure, livestock yards, and pastures can also be possible sources of pollutants that can harm nearby water resources, including your own drinking water well or your neighbor's. They can also be sources of odor, flies, mud and dust that threaten your animal's health and can make for some unhappy neighbors.

Visit our pages on manure / composting, livestock yard and pasture management for steps you can take to protect your drinking water, families and animals.

View our fact sheets to learn more - including how to identify risks and plan solutions on your own farm.