Site Selection
Select land for fruit and vegetable crops based on
the land history, previous manure applications, and
crop rotation. Keep produce fields away from animal
housing, pastures, or barnyards. Study water
movements on land to make sure that livestock
waste from nearby barnyards cannot enter produce
fields via runoff or drift.
Review land history – Was it used for industrial
dumping? Have animal waste or
sludge/biosolids been applied? If yes,
when?
Ensure fields are upstream and upwind
from animal containments.
Identify upstream uses of surface water and
test microbiological quality as needed.
Ensure that contaminated water or livestock
waste cannot enter a field via runoff
or drift.
Contact a local Cooperative Extension Service
or Natural Resource Conservation
Service representative to develop a detailed
farm environmental management plan.
Manure Handling and
Field Application
Livestock manure can be a valuable source of
nutrients, but it also can be a source of human
pathogens if not managed correctly. Organic certification
programs currently include strict
requirements on the handling of raw manure. Even
though these requirements are designed to minimize
environmental risks, it is important that all
farms using manure follow good agricultural practices
to reduce any microbial risk that may exist.
Proper and thorough composting of manure, incorporating
it into soil prior to planting, and
avoiding top-dressing of plants are important
steps toward reducing the risk of microbial contamination.