Animal Outputs

Manure Testing:

• Producers must sample manure and compost prior to applying it to fields used for any type of commercial crop production. Sampling will determine nutrient content in manure or compost as well as pH and heavy metal and salt content (“Electronic Code of Federal Regulations”, 2018).
• Manure should also be tested for harmful substances such as bacteria, hormones, antibiotics, and metals.
• Manure products must be tested for fecal coliform levels. If the products contains more than 1,000 fecal coliform per gram, it must not be used. (“Guidance Processed Animal Manures in Organic Crop Production”, 2011).

Manure Storage:

• Must handle and store manure in a location and way that does not contaminate covered produce. This includes keeping manure separate from areas that are used for growing, harvesting, holding, packaging, and various water systems. (“Electronic Code of Federal Regulations”, 2018)
• Manure must be stored in a building or location that is water tight, so excess runoff, air pollution, and contamination levels can remain minimal.
• Raw manure may not be stored for more than ten days. After this time it must either be spread on fields or be actively converted to compost.

Animal Living Conditions:

• The manure in all living areas of animals raised for production must be removed at least once daily (“Electronic Code of Federal Regulations”, 2018). Exceptions may be made of outdoor living areas where the number of animals per acre does not exceed the regulation limit.
• Runoff from animal living areas should be prevented so as to not contaminate local waterways (“Electronic Code of Federal Regulations”, 2018). Runoff must not contain more than ten percent solid manure by volume.
• Animals must have constant access to the outdoors, except in weather or safety emergencies, which will aid in keeping manure piles to a minimum. (“Electronic Code of Federal Regulations”, 2018).
• There should be no more than 3000 pounds of cattle per acre, roughly 3 cattle per acre (“Organic Dairy Standards, Political Action and Alerts”, 2007).
• There should be no more than 10 sows with a litter per acre and no more than 15 sows without a litter per acre (Schivera, 2007).
• There should be no more than 500 poultry per acre (Bare, 2012).

Manure Application:

• Manure cannot be applied when the ground is frozen, snow-covered, or saturated, as the nutrients cannot be properly absorbed by the ground at this particular time (Wander, 2015).
• Manure must be composted before application if it is being applied to crops used for human consumption (“Electronic Code of Federal Regulations”, 2018).
• Manure must be incorporated into the soil not less than 120 days prior to harvest of a product whose edible portion has direct contact with the soil surface or particles (“Electronic Code of Federal Regulations”, 2018).
• If the crop for human consumption does not contact the soil or particles then raw manure can be incorporated up to 90 days before harvest (“Electronic Code of Federal Regulations”, 2018).
• Weather should be monitored in order to determine when to apply compost or manure in order to avoid applying manure directly before a large storm so as to reduce runoff.

Composting:

• It is recommended manure be composted even if it is not applied to crops for human consumption. Composting reduces the weight of manure, can reduce methane levels, evenly distributes the nutritional content, and reduces offensive odors (“Sound Practices Composting", 2018).
• Composting operations should seek to limit runoff by taking place in watertight bins or buildings or on flat surfaces away from waterways.