November 6, 2008

For immediate release

1.      WATCH AMOUNTS IF APPLYING MANURE PRODUCTS ON LAND THAT WILL BE PLANTED TO SOYBEANS

MEDIA CONTACT: Gene Tinker at (563) 927-2640 or [log in to unmask]

DES MOINES – There is a limit on liquid manure or open lot effluent that can be land applied to fields that will be planted to soybeans next spring.

The limit is 100 pounds of nitrogen, or N, per acre and it applies to liquid manure or runoff containing manure from both open feedlots and animal confinements. The restriction applies only to liquid manure. If no liquid manure is applied, then commercial fertilizer application would not be limited.

“If they are using manure, producers who plan on planting soybeans next year should not apply more than 100 pounds of N, including manure and commercial fertilizer,” said Gene Tinker, the DNR animal feeding operations coordinator.

Tinker added that there has been some confusion about this new rule. “The limit applies only to fields where soybeans are planned as the next crop,” he said. “It does not apply to land where soybeans have just been harvested and corn is planned for next spring.”

The limit went into effect in May 2008.

Producers should also follow long-standing rules for land application. Generally, those include applying manure at agronomic rates and observing separation distances from environmentally sensitive areas. Those required to have a manure or nutrient management plan must follow it. And, commercial and confinement site manure applicators must be certified.

More information on manure application is available on the DNR Web site at www.iowadnr.gov/afo/landapp.html.

-30-