SARE 1997 Highlights

Farmers Increase Nutrient Value

Spreading the right amount of manure on nutrient-deficient fields cust fertilizer costs. Photo by T.L. Gettings/ Rodale Images.

On-farm research is helping Maine dairy farmers answer their own questions about nutrient management and improve use of manure and purchased fertilizers. A SARE-funded study involving university researchers and nearly 30 dairies is encouraging farmers to make practical nutrient decisions. Spreading manure on fields already having high phosphorus and potassium levels often isn't worth the economic and environmental costs, even for the nitrogen value. Determining their farm manure's N content and application rates and interpreting pre-sidedress nitrate tests allows farmers to conserve resources. Deciding which fields will benefit most from fertilizer can be challenging. It can require knowing soil test results, likely crop response, application costs and options such as customizing rates or obtaining other nutrient sources. Some Maine dairy farmers are sharing manure or fields with neighboring farms, especially potato farms. Others have shown 25-percent increases in forage yields through better nutrient applications, including use of manure in alfalfa and grass fields. Nearly 500 farmers already have participated in dozens of workshops, conferences, field days, farm tours, interactive TV courses and other educational efforts of this collaborative, three-year project. (Northeast Region project ANE94-20.)

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