CAFO Manure Could Help Small Operators

As smaller farms continue to look for more efficient ways to grow the best crops, one WSU researcher says they can look to nearby dairy operations.

PhD Candidate Tariq Khalil said many dairy operators and large farms have surplus nutrients and manure and need to be implementing management plans.

“There are small farms where a majority of the input costs goes towards the nutrients and fertilizers. The idea is to look for some ways to share these nutrients between these large and small farms so that both of them benefit.”

For organic growers it’s more of a challenge and they would need to work with their certifier to ensure that any compost that they get meets organic requirements.

Khalil said manure can be a great source of nitrogen, phosphorous, and micronutrients when used correctly.

“The most important thing for a small farmer is to accurately evaluate what they need and they should also evaluate the manure and know what fractions of the nutrients are in there.”

Khalil believes there is a market for companies that can connect these small farmers with manure and nutrients from large farms and dairy operations.

It’s also important for small operators to be aware any application rules for using manure on the field.

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