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Roadside Guide to Clean Water: Manure Storage and Application

Manure is a great resource for farms because it contains valuable nutrients that benefit growing crops.

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Updated:

April 28, 2025

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Roadside Guide to Clean Water: Manure Storage and Application

Manure Storage and Application at a Glance

Manure is a normal product of agricultural animal production. Manure is a great resource for farms because it contains valuable nutrients that benefit growing crops. Manure storage structures are carefully designed and engineered to enable farmers to contain manure in an environmentally safe manner until the appropriate time to apply it to their cropland. Every farm that produces manure must follow state guidelines that ensure the nutrients can be used for crop production in a way that also protects the environment.

How Manure Storage and Application Works

Manure comes in both liquid and solid forms. Both should be stored properly to protect the environment because manure nutrients can become water pollutants. Manure storage structures are built with rigorous standards to protect against leaks. There are many different types of manure storage—from earthen structures with liners made of concrete, bentonite, or plastic membranes, to aboveground steel or concrete structures. Storing manure allows it to be used as a crop fertilizer at times when weather conditions are better for keeping the nutrients on the cropland. Regulations state that a plan is to be used for manure application. The plan ensures manure nutrients stay where they were placed and includes items such as the maximum manure application rates for each type of crop and setback maps that highlight areas near streams, lakes, ponds, wells, and sinkholes. Setbacks are places where manure application cannot occur, so the risk of polluting water is minimized.