Keeping track of manure nutrients in dairy pastures

Abstract

Keeping track of nutrient levels in dairy pastures has become an important part of farm management plans. The current recommendation is to fertilize pastures at a level to replace, in equal measure, the nutrients removed through grazing or cutting each year. The Confined Animal Feeding Operations Program (CAFO) run by the Oregon Department of Agriculture assumes that most livestock facilities apply manure at agronomic rates for nitrogen. Thus, they expect CAFO operations to make sure the amount of nitrogen applied to a field each year equals the amount removed. For operations with grazing animals, determining manure application rates and forage consumption can be challenging. This publication will help you work through this process.