A Beginner's Guide to Manure Spreaders: Ensuring Even Application for Healthy Fields

April 3, 2025

A Beginner's Guide to Manure Spreaders: Ensuring Even Application for Healthy Fields

By Leslie Johnson - Animal Manure Management Extension Educator, Amber Patterson, Amy Millmier Schmidt - Livestock Bioenvironmental Engineer, Glen Arnold - The Ohio State University

manure spreader
By using the right manure spreader, adjusting field passes, and verifying results with calibration, farmers can ensure their fields receive an even distribution of nutrients and organic matter. Read this guide for tips on selecting spreaders and best practices. (Photo by Mara Zelt)

Manure spreaders are essential tools for distributing nutrients to crops to improve fertility and improve soil health. Therefore, achieving an even application of manure is just as important as with commercial fertilizers. Proper placement ensures that every part of a field receives the nutrients needed, leading to healthier crops and soil biology.

A new UNL Water guide explains how to use manure spreaders effectively.

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