According to the Pitt County Soil and Water Office, there could be as many as 8 waste lagoon closures over the next 12 months.  For these operations, this means that solids and effluent will need to be removed and land applied in a responsible manner.

Before you agree to the application of livestock waste to your farm in an effort to cut fertilizer costs, there are some things that you need to know.  Specifically, while these applications can be used to provide essential nutrients to crops, it is important to know that the nutrient and heavy metal contents in these materials.  This information is available by taking a waste sample and having it analyzed through the NCDA&CS Agronomic Division in Raleigh.  There is a fee of $8 for this analysis.

According to Dr. Stephanie Kulesza, Assistant Professor & Extension Specialist (Nutrient Management & Animal Waste), “Waste analysis sample results are usually available in less than a week and provide valuable information regarding not only the nutrient content of macronutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium but also micronutrients such as zinc and copper.  These waste reports are critical to understand how much waste can be applied and also estimate how zinc and copper levels will be affected on your farm.  Over application of zinc and copper can reduce farm productivity in the years to come if these numbers are not known.  It is also important to have a plan or agreement with the owner or applicator should something go wrong on your land.”

Waste sampling procedures and supplies are available through your local Cooperative Extension Center.