Custom manure handling helps farms adhere to regulations

Minnesota dairy farmers pride themselves on protecting the water and natural resources on their farms and neighboring communities.

As such, they work to implement new technologies and practices that help balance livestock production and environmental protection. The proper management of nutrients from the farm is one of the most critical components and one that farms take seriously. It’s already well-regulated through county feedlot laws, state feedlot rules and the extensive 30-page NPDES permit book for farms with over 715 cows. 

“We have a narrow window of time to get on the fields to incorporate the manure, so we have to do it as efficiently as possible,” says D.J Buck, a dairy farmer from Goodhue. “We work with a number of farms in the area to be sure they are handling the manure properly.” 

D.J Buck and his family have been in the dairy business since 1991 when his parents started a 70-cow dairy farm. Through slow growth and the addition of other family members, the dairy farm has grown to two farms with a total of 1,400 cows. As the farm grew, D.J. and his brother, Chris, assumed more of the farm management. 

In 2013, they started a manure management business to help neighboring farms. The company began when the brothers were looking for more land to handle their growing herd. 

“The window we have to apply manure on the fields is shrinking,” D.J. says. “Between the weather and the changing regulations, we are limited in time to get on the fields.”

The tight window of time required D.J. to invest in more equipment so he could use draglines and directly incorporate the nutrients into the soil to reduce odor and any potential run-off. Due to the expense of the equipment, they decided to work for other farmers to help offset their investment. 

“We use dragline applications in the spring before planting the crops,” he says. “The draglines allow us to go 5-6 miles without being on the roads, and they have zero risk of a spill on the roads. Plus, it has less impact on the field.” 

Minnesota Milk and the legislature worked together in 2017 to keep trucks off the road by ensuring draglines can safely and efficiently utilize rights-of-way to move manure through these large hoses. 
Along with the field application, D.J. also helps design lagoons and works with farmers to ensure that their manure testing is current and applications are appropriate for their soil types.

"We have found that diversification works well for us,” D.J. says. “Having the manure management business and some custom chopping along with 500 head feedlot and the dairy gives us a steady income throughout the year without relying on the milk price.”