In cases where all the manure cannot be used on the farm where it is produced, Maryland Department of Agriculture has a program for transporting manure. Also to prevent loss of nutrients, they cost share for manure injection.
Apply in late summer or late winter for the fall or spring manure transport or injection. Call ahead to make sure that one of our certified manure transport staff is there to help. Only fields that are over a mile from the source can be cost shared for transport. Bring in your soil tests and NMP when you apply. You can now apply for transport/injection cost share even after you have applied the manure.
If you are applying for transport of poultry litter, we have an option of a fast track application that you have the option to fill out yourself and submit or come in the office and we can help. Fast track is only for poultry manure. You must have your soil tests with an FIV of under 100 in all fields that it is being transported to. The crops that Fast Track manure can be applied on are corn, no-legume hay, and soybeans. The max rate we will pay on for corn and hay is 3 tons/acre, and the max for soybeans is 1.5 tons/ac (but follow your nutrient management plan if it calls for less!). There is a new haul now- apply later option for Fast Track where you can haul your manure and then apply for cost share within 40 days. Farmers do risk being denied if they apply for ineligible fields. Application and claim can be done at the same time. The cost-share rate has increased to $0.16/ton/mile for poultry manure coming from Dorchester, Somerset, Wicomico, and Worcester counties. It is $0.14/ton/mile for poultry manure coming from all other counties. The maximum cost-share in all cases is $22.50/ton . Fast Track does not apply to any type of manure other than poultry. If you are looking for manure one option is to reach out to our office to send you a list of manure brokers.
Dairy and Livestock manure transport has a new online application option. Similar to the in office application, you are required to list all fields that received manure, and supply maps and soil tests showing phosphorus FIV levels below 101. In addition, MDA is requesting a recent manure analysis
We also have cost share for injection of liquid manure such as dairy that is included in the same application as transport. Some of the benefits of injection are that it reduces nutrient loss, is compatible with row crops and hay fields, and has the minimal soil disturbance needed for no-till. It reduces odors, and reduces N volatilization so can reduce fertilizer requirements.
Note- you cannot spread manure between December 15th and March 1st
Fast Track Program Poultry
- Only for broiler litter transport with houses growing for Perdue, Tyson, Mountaire or Amick. The poultry integrators help pay cost share.
- Must be spread before corn, non-legume hay, or soybeans
- Limit of 3 tons per acre for corn and non-legume hay, and 1.5 tons per acres for soybeans
- Minimum transport distance is 7 miles
- Must have FIV under 100- must have copy of soil tests from within 3 years
- No cost share limit- pays $0.16/mile/ton if manure from Dorchester, Wicomico, Somerset, or Worchester- Other counties pay $0.14/mile/ton- cap at $22.5/ton
- Manure must come from Maryland
- Can be stockpiled- rules of stock piling
- must be over 100 feet from surface water, irrigation/treatment ditches, or 35 feet away if a vegetative buffer is in place
- Must be over 150 feet from a well, spring or wetland
- Must be over 300 feet from a well that is down gradient from the stockpile
- Must be over 200 feet from any residence outside the operators
- If you are interested in getting manure from someone who has too much for their own ground, contact 410-841-5864 for MDA’s manure matching service.
Fast Track Program Dairy and Livestock (and Injection)
- Available for dairy, beef, swine, and other types of manure
- Need manure analysis from within 2 years
- Fields must have an FIV of under 100 for transport- can inject up to 500
- Transportation must be over 1 mile from manure source (no restriction on injection)
- Must have current nutrient management plan- only the amount of manure recommended in plan may be applied
- Legumes are only eligible for injection
- Manure must be from Maryland to be eligible for transport- out of state manure can be injected
- Solid manure must be stored and stockpiled in a manor to prevent leaching and runoff if not land applied within 7 days
- Liquid manure injection is at a rate of $45/acre
- Manure transport of 1.1-5 miles is $3.30/ton of solid, and $13.07/1000 gallons of liquid- rates increase with distance
- $15,000 limit on injection and $15,000 limit on transport in spring and separate $15,000 limit on injection and $15,000 limit on transport in fall.
*Property ID should be in your nutrient management plan. If it isn’t, you can find it at Maryland Department of Planning website