Sustainable Manure Practices to Consider
- 5 juin 2023
This past March 2024, Lactanet organized a series of 3 sustainability webinars funded by the Dairy Farmers of Canada. Recommended manure management practices were discussed in Webinar 2 and are summarized in this article.
Manure storage is one of the main sources of a dairy production’s emissions, contributing about 20% of a farm’s carbon footprint. Many practices can, however, be selected to emit less greenhouse gases and therefore increasing efficiency on farm.
The management of manure prior to its application in the field, and particularly its storage, is a source of methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N20), two greenhouse gases (GHG) that contribute significantly to the farm’s GHG balance— and therefore the carbon footprint of milk. Manure can also impact air quality because it is a source of ammonia (NH3) and volatile organic compounds. When N20 and NH3 emissions occur, they represent a loss of nitrogen as they are not returned to the field. Importantly, the use of manure in the field, when respecting the 4Rs (right source, right rate, right place, and right time) is a sustainable practice. It enables the recycling of organic matter, nutrients (N, P, and K), and energy, while also reducing the use of synthetic fertilizers, which have a significant impact on production and distribution of GHGs, non-renewable fossil-fuel energy, and cost.
There are various strategies and technologies available to reduce GHG emissions from manure storage, measured by direct CH4 and N20 emissions (GIEC, 2019). However, their effectiveness, cost, and return on investment vary.
Implementing manure management strategies that work for you and your farm can not only reduce GHG emissions and improve the sustainability of your farm, but also have financial benefits in the long term. Your farm advisors are your first line of support when making management decisions.
Strategies to reduce emissions from manure storage include:
For an assessment tailored to your farm, contact an expert advisor!
To watch the full webinar recording please click on the button below :
This article was developed by Lactanet and was brought to you thanks to Dairy Farmers of Canada funding, through the National Dairy Knowledge Transfer Project.
